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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 32

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:29 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Shawn Murphy, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: David Christopherson, Bonnie Crombie, Meili Faille, Daryl Kramp, Derek Lee, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley, John Weston and Terence Young.

Acting Members present: Richard Nadeau for Pascal-Pierre Paillé.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Andrew Kitching, Analyst ; Alex Smith, Analyst.

Witnesses: Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada; Nancy Cheng, Assistant Auditor General; René Béliveau, Principal. Great Lakes Pilotage Authority: Robert Lemire, Chief Executive Officer; Réjean Ménard, Secretary/Treasurer; Douglas Smith, Chair, Board of Directors. VIA Rail Canada Inc.: Paul Côté, President and Chief Executive Officer; Robert St-Jean, Chief Financial and Administration Officer; Christena Keon Sirsly, Chief Strategy Officer and Official Languages Champion.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

The Chair presented the Fifteenth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee undertake a study of the Public Accounts of Canada 2009, following their tabling in the House of Commons;

2. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee undertake a study of Chapter 2, "Intellectual Property" of the Spring 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada;

3. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee undertake a study of the implementation of its recommendations made in the 2nd Session of the 39th Parliament, and report to the House thereon;

4. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), members of the International Peer Review Team currently reviewing the operations of the Office of the Auditor General be invited for a one-hour appearance before the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee Report be amended in recommendation 2 by adding, after the word “undertake”, the following: “studies of Chapter 2, “Intellectual Property” and Chapter 4, “Interest on Advance Deposits from Corporate Taxpayers - Canada Revenue Agency” of the Spring 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada;”.

It was agreed, — That the Fifteenth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, as amended, be adopted.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, June 4, 2009, the Committee commenced consideration of Chapter 7, "Special Examinations of Crown Corporations—2008" of the Spring 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

Sheila Fraser, Robert Lemire and Douglas Smith made statements and answered questions.

At 4:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:33 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Sheila Fraser and Paul Côté made statements and, with Réjean Ménard, answered questions.

At 5:33 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Joann Garbig
Clerk of the Committee

2009/11/02 1:58 p.m.