Yasmin Ratansi moved, — 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.
Debate arose thereon.