PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:43 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Shawn Murphy, presiding.

John Williams moved, — That the Committee rescind its decision to hear witnesses from Royal Lepage and Envoy adopted on December 5, 2006.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lake, Pierre Poilievre, David Sweet, John Williams — 5; NAYS: David Christopherson, Jean-Yves Laforest, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx, Yasmin Ratansi, Borys Wrzesnewskyj — 6.

Raymond Bélair made an opening statement and answered questions.

Bruce Atyeo made an opening statement and answered questions.

Ian Bennett, Richard Goodfellow, Ronnie Campbell, Bruce Sloan and Ellen Stensholt answered questions.

Borys Wrzesnewskyj moved, — In 2006 both Auditor General reports have been leaked prior to public release. This is both unprecedented and undermines the integrity of parliament’s ability to hold government to account.

Section 4 (1) (a) of the Security of Information Act deals with Miscellaneous Offences; specifically with Wrongful communication of information. The Act states that:

Every person is guilty of an offence under this Act who:

(a) communicates the code word, password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any person, other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate with, or a person to whom it is in the interest of the State his duty to communicate it;

Given the serious breaches that have occurred with both the Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the House of Commons 2006 and due to the serious implications of these leaks; that the Public Accounts Committee ask for an investigation into the leaks of both of the Auditor General’s most recent reports, May and November 2006 by the RCMP.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. John William raised a point of order concerning the power / mandate of the Committee to ask the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to conduct an investigation.

After debate, the Chair took the point of order under advisement and promised to get back to the Committee with a ruling after consultations and further research.

David Christopherson moved, — That the government provide a representative to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to explain the investigation process, timelines and results regarding the leaked Auditor General reports of May 14, 2006 and November 8, 2006.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 3.

Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj gave notice of a motion related to the study of Chapter 9 of the November 2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on November 28, 2006.

At 5:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:41 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee make the necessary consultations and arrangements for the Committee to hold meetings prior to the House resuming its sittings after the Holidays recess, on January 22 and 23, 2007, and that those meetings be of three hours long each.

It was agreed, — That the Committee hold at least one more meeting on Chapter 5, of the November 2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, on Relocation, and that the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Mr. Marshall, be present, along with a representative of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a representative of the Treasury Board, Rear Admiral Pile of the Department of National Defence, and the individuals whose names appears on the list of the 2002 Interdepartmental Committee Members:

• Zenovia Pankiw, Senior Program/Policy Analyst, Safety, Health & Employee Services, Treasury Board Secretariat

• LColonel Jacques Taillefer, Directorate Compensation and Benefits Administration, Department of National Defence

• Frank Deleseleuc, Director Financial Policy, Royal Canadian Mounted

and on the 2004 Interdepartmental Committee Members:

• Richard Goodfellow, Contracting Authority, Manager, Professional Services Procurement Directorate, Public Works and Government Services Canada

• Ram Singh, Project Authority, Senior Financial and Business Systems Analyst, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

• LColonel Jacques Taillefer, Directorate Compensation and Benefits Administration, Department of National Defence

• Major JD. D'Amours de Courberon, Directorate Compensation & Benefits Administration 2 Travel and Relocations, Department of National Defence.

It was agreed, — That the following documents:

- Investigative Report (Final) Envoy Relocation Services, Complaint of improprieties, September 24, 2003;

- Investigative Report (addendum 1) Envoy Relocation Services, Complaint of impropreties, September 10, 2003

requested by the Committee be provided to the Committee with no conditions or strings attached and that they will be examined at a public meeting; failing that, the Committee intends to explore other ways and means to summon those documents.

At 6:02 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.