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.
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 58
Tuesday, June 4, 2002
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:40 p.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Robert Bertrand, John Bryden, John Finlay, Paul Forseth, Mac Harb, Sophia Leung, Pat Martin, Philip Mayfield, Shawn Murphy, Gilles-A. Perron, Joe Peschisolido, Beth Phinney, Alex Shepherd, Greg Thompson and John Williams.
Acting Members present: Val Meredith for Rahim Jaffer; Ghislain Lebel for Odina Desrochers.
Associate Member present: Val Meredith.
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Brian O'Neal and Jean Dupuis, Research Officers.
Witnesses: From the House of Commons: Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel. From the Office of the Auditor General: Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada; Shahid Minto, Assistant Auditor General; Louise Bertrand, Director. From the Privy Council Office: Richard B. Fadden, Deputy Clerk, Counsel and Security and Intelligence Coordinator. From the Canada Lands Company Ltd.: Kathy Milsom, President and Chief Executive Officer. From the Parc Downsview Park Inc.: Tony Genco, Acting President.
The Chair presented the EIGHT REPORT of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure which is as follows:
The Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 and agreed to make the following recommendations:
- That the Committee invite representatives of Customs Excise Union and Mr. Rob Wright, Commissioner of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency to a meeting on Chapter 8 (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency – Managing the Risks of Non-Compliance for Commercial Shipments Entering Canada) of the December 2001 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.
- That in relation to the letter dated May 14, 2002 from Richard J. Neville, Deputy Comptroller General, concerning waivers to the publication of details related to ex gratia payments relating to Indian Residential Schools, that an annual waiver be given to Treasury Board provided that the gross amount and the total number of claims settled are reported to Parliament.
- That concerning the matter of the protection of witnesses, the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be invited to appear.
After debate, recommendation 1 was negatived.
Recommendations 2 and 3 carried.
Rob Walsh made a statement and answered questions.
The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of John Bryden.
- That this Committee request the appearance of the officials suggested by the Auditor General by her testimony in the Groupaction investigation.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was, by a show of hands, agreed to. YEAS: 11; NAYS: 5.
Greg Thompson moved, - That Ranald Quail be requested to appear before the Committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
John Bryden
Sophia Leung
Shawn Murphy
Beth Phinney
Paul Forseth
Val Meredith
Philip Mayfield
Ghislain Lebel
Gilles A. Perron
Pat Martin
Greg Thompson : --11
NAYS:
Robert Bertrand
John Finlay
Mac Harb
Joe Peschisolido
Alex Shepherd: -- 5
Beth Phinney moved, - That the Committee defer further consideration of witnesses until after the five witnesses agreed to have appeared.
And debate arising thereon.
Pat Martin moved, - That the motion be amended by adding the words “and Norm Steinberg” after the works “five witnesses agreed to”.
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
Paul Forseth
Val Meredith
Philip Mayfield
Ghislain Lebel
Gilles A. Perron
Pat Martin
Greg Thompson: -- 7
NAYS:
Robert Bertrand
John Bryden
John finlay
Mac Harb
Sophia Leung
Shawn Murphy
Joe Peschisolido
Beth Phinney
Alex Shepherd: -- 9
And the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
Robert Bertrand
John Bryden
Mac Harb
Shawn Murphy
Joe Peschisolido
Beth Phinney
Alex Shepherd
Paul Forseth
Val Meredith
Philip Mayfield: -- 10
NAYS:
John Finlay
Sophia Leung
Ghislain Lebel
Gilles A. Perron
Pat Martin
Greg Thompson: -- 6
At 4:31 a.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 4:39 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(e), the Committee resumed consideration of Chapter 13 - Other Audit Observations (Parc Downsview Park Inc.) of the December 2001 Report of the Auditor General of Canada. (See Minutes of Proceedings of meeting No. 46)
By unanimous consent, it was agreed, - That the opening statements of the witnesses appearing on Chapter 13 – Other Audit Observatins (Parc Downsview Park Inc.) of the December 2001 Report of the Auditor General of Canada be taken as read and published into today’s Evidence.
The witnesses answered question.
At 5:33 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Richard Rumas
Clerk of the Committee