PACC Committee Meeting
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 14
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Robert Bertrand, John Bryden, Gerry Byrne, Odina Desrochers, John Finlay, Marlene Jennings, Sophia Leung, Philip Mayfield, Shawn Murphy, Joe Peschisolido, Alex Shepherd and John Williams.
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Brian O'Neal and Jean Dupuis, Research Officers.
1. The Chairman presented the Second Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure, which is as follows:
The Sub-Committee met on Thursday, April 26, 2001 to consider the future business of the Committee and has agreed to make the following recommendations:
- That meetings be scheduled to consider the following Chapters from the April, October and December 2000 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada:
1) Chapter 21, (Post-Secondary Recruitment Program of the Federal Public Service) of the December 2000 Report.
Chapter 9, (Streamlining the Human Resource Management Regime: A Study of Changing Roles and Responsibilities) of the April 2000 Report.
2) Chapter 18, (Governance of Crown Corporations) of the December 2000 Report.
3) Chapter 24, (Federal Health and Safety Regulatory Programs) of the December 2000 Report.
Chapter 25, (Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Food Inspection Programs) of the December 2000 Report.
4) Chapter 26, (Health Canada - Regulatory Regime of Biologics) of the December 2000 Report.
Chapter 27, (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission - Power Reactor Regulation) of the December 2000 Report.
5) Chapter 33, Follow-up of Recommendations in Previous Reports (Grants and Contributions: Selected Programs in Department of Canadian Heritage - 1998, Chapter 27) of the December 2000 Report.
6) Chapter 34, (Audit Observation: Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and Human Resources Development Canada) of the December 2000 Report.
- That two meetings be held on Chapter 15, (Health Canada – First Nations Health: Follow-up) of the October 2000 Report.
It was agreed, - That the SECOND REPORT of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.
2. It was agreed, - That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts establish a Sub-Committee to explore issues related to the impact of corruption on the efficient delivery of public services, to consider the role of Parliament in combating corruption, and to support current efforts to create regional and global organizations of parliamentarians engaged in the fight against corruption;
- That the Sub-Committee be Chaired by John Williams and that it be composed of ten (10) members including five (5) members from the Government and five (5) members from the Opposition to be appointed by the Chair after the usual consultations;
- That the Chair of the Sub-Committee be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence in the absence of a quorum, provided that three (3) members are present;
- That the Sub-Committee be delegated all of the powers of the Standing Committee, except the power to report to the House;
- That the Sub-Committee be authorized to reimburse the travelling expenses of the witnesses which will be charged to the budget of the Standing Committee;
- That the Sub-Committee be authorized to seek the authority and the necessary funds to travel, if deemed appropriate.
3. The Committee resumed consideration of the Main Estimates 2001-2002, Vote 20 under FINANCE (Office of the Auditor General of Canada) referred to the Committee on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 and Part III - Report on Plans and Priorities relating to 2001-2002. (See Minutes of Proceedings of Tuesday, April 24, 2001, Meeting No. 11)
The question being put on Vote 20, it was carried.
It was ordered, - That the Chair report Vote 20 under FINANCE as the THIRD REPORT to the House.
4. On motion of Marlene Jennings, it was agreed, - That the Chair of the Committee be authorized to seek the authority and the necessary funds to permit up to seven (7) members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and three (3) staff persons of the Committee to travel to Regina, Saskatchewan, to attend the Twenty-Second Annual Conference of the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees from September 16, to 18, 2001, and that the members attending the Conference utilize their air travel points to travel to the Conference.
5. On motion of Sophia Leung, it was agreed, - That the travel budget in the amount of $ 22,385 to attend the Twenty-Second Annual Conference of the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees from September 15, to 19, 2001 in Regina, Saskatchewan be adopted.
At 3:52 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.
6. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(e), the Committee proceeded to consider the Draft Report on the Public Accounts of Canada 1999-2000.
It was agreed, - That the Committee adopt the Draft Report, as amended, as the Fourth Report of the Committee.
It was agreed, - That pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response to this report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes to the Report as may be necessary without changing the substance of the Report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair table the Fourth Report to the House.
7. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(e), the Committee proceeded to consider the Draft Report on Chapter 11 (Human Resources Development Canada - Grants and Contributions) of the October 2000 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.
It was agreed, - That the Committee adopt the Draft Report, as amended, as the Fifth Report of the Committee.
It was agreed, - That pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response to this report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes to the Report as may be necessary without changing the substance of the Report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair table the Fifth Report to the House.
8. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(e), the Committee proceeded to consider the Draft Report on Chapter 14 (Canadian International Development Agency - Managing Contracts and Contribution Agreements) of the October 2000 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.
It was agreed, - That the Committee adopt the Draft Report, as amended, as the Sixth Report of the Committee.
It was agreed, - That pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response to this report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes to the Report as may be necessary without changing the substance of the Report.
It was agreed, - That the Chair table the Sixth Report to the House.
At 4:30 p.m., the Committee until 3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 10, 2001.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee