PACP Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in camera at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 269 West Block, the Chair, John Williams, presiding.

The Chair presented the Eleventh Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Thursday, May 19, 2005, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the schedule as attached be adopted as the Committee’s schedule for the rest of the Committee’s sitting prior to the summer adjournment;

2. That in response to the letter of Charles-Antoine St. Jean dated April 14, 2005, a letter be sent to the Auditor General seeking her advice concerning reporting changes to the Public Accounts of Canada, and a letter be sent to the Comptroller General informing him that the Committee would be consulting the Auditor General prior to responding.

It was agreed, — That the Eleventh Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be concurred in.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adopt the draft report as the Report to the House.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.

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

It was agreed, — That the Chair present the Report to the House at the earliest opportunity following the expiry of the forty-eight (48) hour revision period.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, issue a news release.

It was agreed, — That the Bloc Québécois be authorized to submit a supplementary opinion to the Committee's report on Chapter 4, Accountability of Foundations of the February 2005 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Clerk provided that:

1) the report be no longer than two (2) pages in length;

2) the report be submitted in both official languages;

3) the Report be submitted no later than forty-eight (48) hours following the adoption of this motion.

It was moved — That, pursuant to the information submitted to this committee by Mr. Bruce Atyeo, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts request that the Auditor General of Canada conduct an audit of the Integrated Relocation Program (IRP) contracts across the Government of Canada, and report her findings to Parliament in a subsequent Report of the Auditor General.

By unanimous consent, the motion was allowed to stand.

At 4:45 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.