PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 2:03 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, David Christopherson, presiding.

Andrew Saxton moved, — That the Committee proceed to consideration of the motion moved by Andrew Saxton on Thursday, April 5, 2012.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Malcolm Allen, Jay Aspin, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Matthew Dubé, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 10; NAYS: Gerry Byrne — 1.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Andrew Saxton, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts begin a study of the Spring 2012 Report of the Auditor General, beginning with Chapter 2 (Replacing Canada’s Fighter Jets), and that the Committee hold a planning session at the meeting of April 24, 2012, to determine the witness list and agenda for the study, and that when the study is completed the Committee report its finding to the House of Commons.

The debate continued.

Gerry Byrne moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after the word “Jets),” with the following:

“that the Committee hold a planning session at the meeting of April 19, 2012, and that the witness list include, but not be limited to:

• François Guimont, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada;

• Craig Morris, Deputy Director, F-35 Industrial Participation, Industry Canada;

• Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada;

• Johanne Provencher, Director General, Defence and Major Projects Directorate, Public Works and Government Services Canada;

• Tom Ring, Assistant Deputy Minister, Acquisitions Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada;

• Col D.C. Burt, Director, New Generation Fighter Capability, National Defence;

• Michael J. Slack, F-35 Project Manager, Director of Continental Materiel Cooperation, National Defence;

• LGen J.P.A. Deschamps, Chief of the Air Staff, National Defence;

• Dan Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel), National Defence;

• Kevin Page, Parliamentary Budget Officer;

• Michael Ferguson, Auditor General of Canada”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gerry Byrne and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Malcolm Allen, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Gerry Byrne, Matthew Dubé — 4; NAYS: Jay Aspin, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 7.

Gerry Byrne moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “Jets),” the following: “that the Committee hold a planning session at the meeting of April 19, 2012, and that witnesses appear as panels, with no more than two (2) witnesses per panel, and that each panel appear for a minimum of one hour, and that the Committee report its findings to the House of Commons”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gerry Byrne and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Malcolm Allen, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Gerry Byrne, Matthew Dubé — 4; NAYS: Jay Aspin, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 7.

Bev Shipley moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “agenda for the study,” the following: “that the first meeting to hear witness testimony be on April 26, 2012,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bev Shipley and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Malcolm Allen, Jay Aspin, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Matthew Dubé, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 10; NAYS: Gerry Byrne — 1.

Malcolm Allen moved, — That the motion be further amended by adding after the words “April 24, 2012,” the following: “and that the session be held open and in public,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Malcolm Allen and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Malcolm Allen, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Gerry Byrne, Matthew Dubé — 4; NAYS: Jay Aspin, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 7.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Jay Aspin, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 7; NAYS: Malcolm Allen, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Gerry Byrne, Matthew Dubé — 4.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts begin a study of the Spring 2012 Report of the Auditor General, beginning with Chapter 2 (Replacing Canada’s Fighter Jets), and that the Committee hold a planning session at the meeting of April 24, 2012, to determine the witness list and agenda for the study; that the first meeting to hear witness testimony be on April 26, 2012; and that when the study is completed the Committee report its finding to the House of Commons.

Andrew Saxton moved, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Jay Aspin, Cheryl Gallant, Bryan Hayes, Daryl Kramp, Pierre Lemieux, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley — 7; NAYS: Malcolm Allen, Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Gerry Byrne, Matthew Dubé — 4.

At 4:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.