PACP Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 5

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 11:14 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Shawn Murphy, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Hon. Navdeep Bains, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Lake, Hon. Shawn Murphy, Richard Nadeau, Yasmin Ratansi, Benoît Sauvageau, David Sweet, John Williams and Borys Wrzesnewskyj.

Acting Members present: Joe Comartin for David Christopherson and Jeff Watson for Pierre Poilievre.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Brian O'Neal, Analyst ; Alex Smith, Analyst.

Witnesses: As an individual: William V. Baker, Former Commissioner , Canada Firearms Centre. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Susan M.W. Cartwright, Assistant Secretary, Accountability in Government. Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General. As an individual: Wayne Ganim, Former Director General, Finance, Department of Justice. Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Peter Kasurak, Senior Principal. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: John Morgan, Acting Assistant Comptroller General, Financial Management and Analysis Sector, Office of the Comptroller General. As an individual: Morris Rosenberg, Former Deputy Minister and Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Charles-Antoine St-Jean, Comptroller General of Canada. As an individual: John Wiersema, Former Comptroller General of Canada. Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Frank Vandenhoven, Principal. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Bill Matthews, Senior Director.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the Committee commenced consideration of Chapter on Parliament's Control of Public Spending of the May 2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada referred to the Committee on May 16, 2006.

Sheila Fraser, William Baker, Charles-Antoine St-Jean, John Wiersema and Morris Rosenberg made opening statements and with other witnesses answered questions.

At 1:52 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:55 p.m., the sitting resumed.

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

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

The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has the honour to present its

SECOND REPORT

The Subcommittee met on Thursday, May 18, 2006, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That regarding the Report of the Auditor General of Canada tabled in November 2005, the Committee write to Departments concerned asking for an update following this report.

2. That whenever possible, the Committee study the Chapters tabled by the Auditor General of Canada in May 2006, in the following order :

1). Government Decisions Limited, Parliament's Control of Public Spending

2). Chapter 5, Management of Programs for First Nations

3). Chapter 7, Acquisition of Leased Office Space

4). Chapter 8, Canada Revenue Agency - Collection of Tax Debts

5). Chapter 4, Canadian Firearms Program

6). Chapter 2, National Defence - Military Recruiting and Retention

3. That the Committee re-table Report 10 of the 1st Session, 38th Parliament, outlining the recommendations in light of the government response that had been received.

4. That regarding the leak of the Auditor General's report a letter be sent asking for the results of the government investigation.

On motion of Benoît Sauvageau, it was agreed, — That the Second Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

At 2:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee

2006/06/01 10:10 a.m.