PACC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in a televised session at 9:07 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Clerks write to the Departments of Justice, Canadian Heritage and Public Safety requesting that they respond to the Member within ten (10) days, and failing that, that the question be brought back to the attention of the Committee.

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

The Subcommittee met on Thursday, March 11, 2004 and agreed to make the following recommendations:

That, if required, the Committee sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m..

That the Committee hold one meeting to consider both the Public Accounts of Canada for 2002-03 and Vote 20 under FINANCE of the Main Estimates 2004-05.

That the Auditor General of Canada be invited to appear before the Committee for 15 minutes on Thursday, April 1st, 2004 in order to present an overview of her March 2004 report.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “if required”.

It was agreed, — That the report be further amended by deleting paragraphs 3 and 4 and by substituting the following therefor:

That the Committee hold one meeting on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, to consider the Public Accounts of Canada for 2002-03, Vote 20 under FINANCE of the Main Estimates 2004-05, and the March 2004 Report of the Auditor General.

That the report be further amended, by replacing the words “Thursday, March 25, 2004” with the following: “Thursday, April 1, 2004”

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee, as amended, be concurred in.

It was agreed, — That the draft report on the Peer Review of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, as amended, be adopted as the Third Report of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the Report.

ORDERED, — That the Chair be instructed to present the report to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Vic Toews moved, — That the Committee request the Privy Council office and/or the Prime Minister’s Office to send to the Committee all documents setting out the mandate given to Mr. Gagliano in his capacity as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, including all “Instruments of Advice”, notes, memoranda and other similar or related instruments.

Debate arose.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “related instruments” the following: “within the mandate of the Committee”.

The motion, as amended, carried.

Vic Toews moved, — That based on the evidence presented by former Minister Alfonso Gagliano and reference to “briefings”, all documents pertaining to those briefings including briefing books, notes, memos and agenda items, day timers, etc. be tabled and made available to the public accounts committee for examination in these deliberations.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 7.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, — That the Committee request that a copy of the daily agendas for all ministers of the Crown between November 1993 and December 2003 be forwarded to the Committee's counsel for his review; and,

That the Committee's counsel forward to members of the Committee those portions that are relevant to the Committee's study of Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the Auditor General's November 2003 Report.

Debate arose.

Marlene Jennings moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “all ministers of the Crown” with the words “former Deputy Minister Ronald Quail, former Minister Alfonso Gagliano and Charles Guité”.

Debate arose on the amendment.

The question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to.

Marlene Jennings moved, — That the motion be further amended by adding after the words “daily agendas” the following: “and records of incoming calls to those offices”.

Debate arose on the amendment.

The question was put on the amendment of Marlene Jennings and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 8.

The motion, as amended, was agreed to.

On motion of Judy Wasylycia-Leis, it was agreed, — That the Committee request the names of all assistants and policy advisers to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services who had responsibility for the sponsorship file between June 1997 and June 2002.

On motion of Marlene Jennings, it was agreed, — That, at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 9 a.m., the Committee determine its witness list and exact date and times each witness will be called to appear on such dates it shall determine.

On motion of Dennis Mills, it was agreed, — That the Committee be provided with all documentation related to all production costs associated with the $ 83, 829, 488 allocated to the 1986 separate sponsorship program approved events from 1997 to 2003, as outlined in the documents provided to the Committee by Mr. Marshall, Deputy Minister of PWGSC, entitled “Sponsorship Program – Estimated Expenditures and Events Sponsored”.

At 10:22 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.