PACC Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 4

Thursday, February 19, 2004

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 9:03 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Odina Desrochers, Paul Forseth, Roger Gaudet, Marlene Jennings, Hon. Joe Jordan, Dominic LeBlanc, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Beth Phinney, Alan Tonks, Judy Wasylycia-Leis and John Williams.

Acting Members present: Diane Ablonczy for Val Meredith, Joe Comartin for Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Gerald Keddy for Peter Goldring, Dennis Mills for Hon. Walt Lastewka, Pauline Picard for Roger Gaudet and Vic Toews for Philip Mayfield.

Associate Members present: John Bryden, Jason Kenney and Monte Solberg.

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

Witnesses: Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada; Ronald Campbell, Assistant Auditor General; Shahid Minto, Assistant Auditor General; Jean Ste-Marie, Legal Advisor and Assistant Auditor General; Louise Bertrand, Principal. Privy Council Office: Kathy O'Hara, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government.

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 witnesses made statements and answered questions.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Odina Desrochers, it was agreed, — That the Government of Canada be ordered to provide the Committee with the names of individuals in departments, agencies and Crown corporations who authorized financial transactions described in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the Auditor General of Canada’s November 2003 Report.

At 10:41 a.m., Beth Phinney took the Chair.

At 10:47 a.m., John Williams took the Chair.

At 11:43 a.m., Marlene Jennings took the Chair.

At 11:47 a.m., John Williams took the Chair.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Diane Ablonczy, it was agreed, — That the Government of Canada be ordered to provide the Committee with a copy of all cabinet documents pertaining to the Sponsorship Program, including those surrounding its creation.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Vic Toews, it was agreed, — That the Government of Canada be ordered to provide the Committee with a copy of all contracts between the Communications Co-ordination Services Branch of Public Works and Government Services Canada and organizations mentioned in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the Auditor General of Canada’s November 2003 Report.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Marlene Jennings, it was agreed, — That Canada Post be ordered to provide the Committee with the names of individuals who authorized financial transactions described in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the Auditor General’s November 2003 Report.

At 12:53 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Jeremy LeBlanc
Committee Clerk

2004/02/20 2:17 p.m.