PACP Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 19

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Shawn Murphy, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: David Christopherson, Bonnie Crombie, Luc Desnoyers, Meili Faille, Daryl Kramp, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Yasmin Ratansi, Andrew Saxton, Bev Shipley and Terence Young.

Acting Members present: Earl Dreeshen for John Weston, Gerald Keddy for John Weston and Greg Rickford for Terence Young.

Other Members present: Scott Andrews.

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

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

Yasmin Ratansi gave notice of the following motion:

Whereas on February 26, 2009, President of the Treasury Board tabled in the House of Commons the 2009-2010 Main Estimates totaling $236.1 billion in expenditures.

And whereas included in the Main Estimates is Treasury Board Vote 35, an unprecedented item for $3,000,000,000 that will provide departments with funding for as yet unspecified projects allegedly for Canada’s Economic Action Plan starting April 1, 2009.

And whereas the spending of this amount is outside of normal parliamentary rules and procedures in respect of transparency and accountability.

And whereas the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts, given the highly unusual nature of this appropriation, should receive from the Comptroller General of Canada detailed reports as to the expenditure of this $3,000,000,000 appropriation.

Be it resolved:

That the Comptroller General of Canada present to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts every 7 days commencing May 19, 2009 and every 7 days thereafter a report on expenditures approved from this $3,000,000,000 appropriation;

That each of these weekly reports set out, as of its date the number of times that Vote 35 has been used, the aggregate amount that has been drawn down under that Vote and the numbers of jobs projected to be created by the funds expended;

That these weekly reports continue until the entire $3,000,000,000 is expended or until such time that the amount is included in the Estimates process in the ordinary and normal course of parliamentary appropriations.

Meili Faille gave notice of the following motion:

That, by Wednesday, May 13, 2009, the Department of Public Works and Government Services be required to deposit the audiocassettes requested at the meeting of March 24, 2009, in relation to the Committee’s study of Chapter 3, Contracting for Professional Services - Public Works and Government Services Canada of the December 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

It was moved, — That pursuant to the motions adopted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 and Tuesday, March 3, 2009 with respect to resuming the consideration of draft reports prepared during the 39th Parliament, the Chair be authorized to write to the Deputy Ministers concerned and request a factual update of specific actions taken to address the findings and recommendations of the respective audits carried out by the Auditor General of Canada.

The question was put on the motion and the results of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion was agreed to.

At 4:26 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:27 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 1, "A Study of Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories" of the December 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

It was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Chapter 1, A Study of Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories of the December 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, Clerk and analyst be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a dissenting opinion from the Bloc Québécois.

It was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee prepare and issue a press release following the presentation of the report in the House.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 5, "Surveillance of Infectious Diseases - Public Health Agency of Canada" of the May 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

It was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Chapter 5, Surveillance of Infectious Diseases - Public Health Agency of Canada of the May 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, Clerk and analyst be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee prepare and issue a press release following the presentation of the report in the House.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 7, "Economy and Efficiency of Services - Correctional Service Canada" of the December 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Joann Garbig
Clerk of the Committee

2009/05/29 10:23 a.m.