SPAC Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts met in camera at 12:11 p.m. this day, in Room 307, West Block, the Chair, the Hon. Shawn Murphy, presiding.

It was agreed, — That, following the tabling of the Auditor General's Status Report of February 13, 2007 and the choices of Chapters by Committee Members, that the first three chapters on the submitted list be added to the Agenda of the Committee, and if time permits, the Fourth Chapter may be studied.

It was agreed, — That Ms. Janice Cochrane, former Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada be invited to appear at the same time as Mr. André Gladu, former Deputy Minister of Development Economic Canada (D.E.C) to answer questions about Place Victoria, in Montreal.

It was agreed, — That the document produced by Dr. Ned Franks for the Committee, “A protocol for the Appearance of Accounting Officers as witnesses before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts“ be made available to the Treasury Board Secretariat and to the Privy Council Office for examination and comments to the Committee before March 12, 2007 at the latest. That on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, the Protocol will be presented to the Committee for adoption as the interim protocol governing the appearance of Accounting Officers before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, with the following motion:

That the Protocol for appearance of Accounting Officers before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, be adopted by this Committee as the interim protocol governing the appearance of Accounting Officers before this Committee pending the adoption of a final Protocol.

It was agreed, — That the Committee do examine the possibility of inviting the Treasury Officer of Accounts from Great Britain to make presentation to the Committee on his duties and responsibilities with regard to Accounting Officers and the relationship between Accounting Officers, and the United Kingdom’s Public Accounts Committee .

It was agreed, — That an extra hour be added to the normal two hours meeting time of the Committee, to hear Mr. André Gladu and Ms. Janice Cochrane on Place Victoria, once the Clerk has come to an agreement on the date of appearance with the witnesses.

At 1:16 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.