PACP Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 8

Thursday, March 5, 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, Luc Desnoyers, Meili Faille, Daryl Kramp, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Yasmin Ratansi, Bev Shipley, John Weston and Terence Young.

Acting Members present: Stephen Woodworth for Andrew Saxton.

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

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

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

Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, following the tabling of the May 2009 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, the Committee schedule a meeting to study three of the Crown corporations to be featured in the chapter entitled, “Special Examination of Crown Corporations – A Summary”;

2. That all departments and agencies of the federal government that have been subject to a performance audit by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada provide a detailed action plan to address the audit findings and recommendations - including specific actions, timelines for their completion and responsible individuals - to the Public Accounts Committee and the Office of the Auditor General of Canada within six months of the audit being tabled in the House of Commons; and that departments and agencies that are invited to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the findings of an audit should, when feasible, provide an action plan to the Committee prior to the hearing;

3. That, notwithstanding the Committee’s order of February 12, 2009 providing for a three-week adjournment of the debate on the motion of David Christopherson “That the Parliamentary Budget Officer be invited to appear before the Committee to discuss his role and issues pertaining to his responsibility”, the debate be further adjourned to a later date;

4. That the Committee take note of the Annual Conference of the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees (CCPAC) and the Canadian Council of Legislative Auditors (CCOLA), taking place in Edmonton, Alberta from September 13 to 15, 2009; and that members be encouraged to use their travel points to get to and from Edmonton;

5. That, starting in May 2009, the Committee devote one of its two weekly meetings to the consideration of draft reports.

On motion of Daryl Kramp, it was agreed, — That the Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts be adopted.

On motion of Bev Shipley, it was agreed, — That the texts of the opening statements of the following witnesses - Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada; Rob Wright, Deputy Minister, Finance Canada, Rod Monette, Comptroller General of Canada; Nola Buhr, Chair, Public Sector Accounting Board - be appended to the official transcript of the Committee’s meeting of March 3, 2009, at which they appeared.

At 3:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:37 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee resumed consideration of the Public Accounts of Canada 2008 referred to the Committee on Monday, December 1, 2008.

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

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: Public Accounts of Canada 2008.

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), the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 4, "First Nations Child and Family Services Program - Indian and Northern Affairs 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 4, "First Nations Child and Family Services Program - Indian and Northern Affairs 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), the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 7, "Detention and Removal of Individuals - Canada Border Services Agency" of the May 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

At 5:27 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Joann Garbig
Clerk of the Committee

2009/03/19 2:30 p.m.