PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Joseph Volpe, presiding.

The Chair presented the Fifteenth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, in relation to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the Committee begin its study of Chapter 5, “Regulating and Supervising Large Banks,” of the Fall 2010 Report of the Auditor General of Canada in early 2011.

2. That, in relation to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the Committee begin its study of the “Public Accounts of Canada 2010” in early 2011.

3. That, in relation to the motions adopted by the Committee on Thursday, March 25, 2010 and Thursday, April 15, 2010, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be directed to undertake a preliminary assessment of the status of recommendations made by the Committee in the Second Session, 40th Parliament.

4. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee consider its approach to a possible study of the Special Report of the Auditor General of Canada concerning the Public Service Integrity Commissioner of Canada, to be tabled in the House on December 9, 2010.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Jean-Claude D'Amours, it was agreed, — That the report be amended by replacing in paragraph 4, the words “consider its approach to a possible” with the words “undertake a”; and by adding afer the word “2010”, the following “and that the following witnesses be invited to appear on Tuesday, December 14, 2010:

• the Auditor General of Canada
• the former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
• the Acting Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
• the Clerk of the Privy Council.

 .

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee, as amended, be concurred in.

The report reads as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, in relation to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the Committee begin its study of Chapter 5, “Regulating and Supervising Large Banks,” of the Fall 2010 Report of the Auditor General of Canada in early 2011.

2. That, in relation to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 25, 2010, the Committee begin its study of the “Public Accounts of Canada 2010” in early 2011.

3. That, in relation to the motions adopted by the Committee on Thursday, March 25, 2010 and Thursday, April 15, 2010, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be directed to undertake a preliminary assessment of the status of recommendations made by the Committee in the Second Session, 40th Parliament.

4. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee undertake a study of the Special Report of the Auditor General of Canada concerning the Public Service Integrity Commissioner of Canada, to be tabled in the House on December 9, 2010; and

That the following witnesses be invited to appear on Tuesday, December 14, 2010:

• the Auditor General of Canada
• the former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
• the Acting Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
• the Clerk of the Privy Council.

Jean-Claude D'Amours moved, — That an additional hearing be scheduled with the witnesses who appeared at the meeting on December 7, 2010, in relation to the study of Chapter 6, “Acquisition of Military Helicopters,“ of the Fall 2010 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the motion was negatived.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:03 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

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

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: “Chapter 2, “Modernizing Human Resource Management,” of the Spring 2010 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.

At 12:40 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.