PACC Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 10

Thursday, March 18, 2004

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 9:12 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Odina Desrochers, Marlene Jennings, Dominic LeBlanc, Beth Phinney, Alan Tonks, Judy Wasylycia-Leis and John Williams.

Acting Members present: Diane Ablonczy for Philip Mayfield, Christian Jobin for Hon. Steve Mahoney, Jason Kenney for Peter Goldring, Judi Longfield for Hon. Steve Mahoney, Peter MacKay for Val Meredith, Dennis Mills for Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, John O'Reilly for Hon. Walt Lastewka, Pauline Picard for Roger Gaudet, Karen Redman for Hon. Joe Jordan and Vic Toews for Paul Forseth.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Jean Dupuis, Analyst ; Brian O'Neal, Analyst.

Witnesses: As an Individual: Hon. Alfonso L. Gagliano. Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada.

Other Participants present: As an Individual: Pierre Fournier, Counsel to the Hon. Alfonso Gagliano.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 3, the Sponsorship Program, Chapter 4, Advertising Activities and Chapter 5, Management of Public Opinion Research of the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada referred to the Committee on February 10, 2004.

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

The Subcommittee met on Thursday, March 11, 2004 and agreed to make the following recommendations:

That, if required, the Committee sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m..

That the Committee hold one meeting to consider both the Public Accounts of Canada for 2002-03 and Vote 20 under FINANCE of the Main Estimates 2004-05.

That the Auditor General of Canada be invited to appear before the Committee for 15 minutes on Thursday, April 1st, 2004 in order to present an overview of her March 2004 report.

That Charles Guité be invited to appear before the Committee on Thursday, March 25, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.

It was agreed — That the words “if required” be removed.

Alfonso Gagliano made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:05 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:34 a.m., the sitting resumed.

At 1:03 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:33 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Sheila Fraser made a statement and answered questions.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Alan Tonks, it was agreed, — That pursuant to the authority provided to the Committee to summon witnesses, that Mr. Charles Guité be summoned to appear before the Public Accounts Committee at a date to be arrived at by the Chairman, but no later than April 1, 2004.

At 4:12 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Elizabeth B. Kingston, Jeremy LeBlanc
Clerks of the Committee

2004/03/19 5:02 p.m.