PACC Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Tuesday, February 20, 2001

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:37 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block for the purpose of organization.

Members of the Committee present: John Bryden, Odina Desrochers, Mac Harb, Marlene Jennings, Sophia Leung, Philip Mayfield, Shawn Murphy, Gilles-A. Perron, Joe Peschisolido, Alex Shepherd, Greg Thompson and John Williams.

Acting Members present: Aileen Carrol for Robert Bertrand, Dennis Mills for Mac Harb, Ovid Jackson for Gerry Byrne, Alan Tonks for John Finlay and Vic Toews for Brian Pallister.

Associate Member present: Vic Toews.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.

On motion of Philip Mayfield, it was agreed, - That John Williams do take the Chair of this Committee as Chairman.

Accordingly, John Williams took the Chair.

On motion of Ovid Jackson, it was agreed, - That Marlene Jennings be elected Vice-Chair of this Committee.

On motion of John Bryden, it was agreed, - That Mac Harb be elected Vice-Chair of this Committee.

On motion of Odina Desrochers, it was agreed, - That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, an additional Liberal member and a representative of each of the Bloc Québecois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

On motion of Alex Shepherd, it was agreed, - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Philip Mayfield, it was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least five (5) members are present including three (3) government members and two (2) members of the opposition.

On motion of Mac Harb, it was agreed, - That in the absence of a reduced quorum of five (5) members, the Chair be authorized to call the meeting to order to hear evidence no sooner than 15 minutes after the time indicated on the notice provided that three (3) members are present.

On motion of Odina Desrochers, it was agreed, - That the witnesses be given five (5) minutes to make their opening statement and if they have additional information, it should be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee, and that during the questioning of the witnesses, there be allocated eight (8) minutes for the first questioner of each party and that thereafter four (4) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Ovid Jackson, it was agreed, - That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of 2 representatives for any organization.

On motion of Alan Tonks, it was agreed, - That the Committee authorize the Chair, from time to time, as the need arises, to take, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches be charged to the budget of the Committee.

On motion of Gilles-A. Perron, it was agreed, - That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents received from the public only after they have been translated and made available in both official languages.

It was agreed, - That the Committee schedule a meeting on Thursday, February 22, 2001 at 3:30 p.m. with the Auditor General in attendance who will discuss priorities for the consideration of the December 2000 Report containing several Chapters, and that at 5:00 p.m. the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet to plan its future business.

At 3:50 p.m., the Committee adjourned until 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2001.

Santosh Sirpaul




Clerk of the Committee