OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met in a televised session at 3:29 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Yasmin Ratansi, presiding.

Chris Warkentin moved, — That the Committee now adjourn to enable the witnesses scheduled for this meeting to appear at a later date when the Parliamentary Budget Officer will also be able to appear with them.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the motion was negatived.

Michelle d'Auray and Yaprak Baltacioglu made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 5:16 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:17 p.m., the sitting resumed.

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

Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Committee, for its meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2009, with regard to Supplementary Estimates (B) 2009-2010, invite to appear relevant representatives from the Privy Council Office;

2. That the Committee, for its meeting on Tuesday, November 24, 2009, with regard to the implementation of the economic action plan, invite to appear the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, along with Yaprak Baltacioglu, Deputy Minister at Infrastructure Canada, and Michelle d’Auray, Secretary to the Treasury Board of Canada;

3. That the Committee, for its meeting on Thursday, November 26, 2009, invite to appear relevant representatives from the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Department of Public Works and Government Services during the first hour of meeting for a follow-up on the issue of large information technology projects, and invite relevant representatives from the Department of Public Works and Government Services during the second hour of meeting for the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2009-2010;

4. That the Committee, for its meeting on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, with regard to the government procurement processes, invite for the first hour of meeting the Procurement Ombudsman, Shahid Minto, and invite relevant representatives from the Department of Public Works and Government Services for the second hour of meeting;

5. That the Committee, for its meeting on Thursday, December 3, 2009, invite to appear the President of the Treasury Board, Hon. Vic Toews, for the first hour of meeting; and that the Committee consider a draft report on the issue of the stimulus package implementation for the second hour of its December 3 and 8, 2009, meetings.

6. That the Clerk be authorized to distribute to the Committee members, in one or the other official languages, the information provided by Infrastructure Canada in response to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 5, 2009, for the production of documents.

Judy Foote moved, — That the Clerk be authorized to distribute to the Committee members, in one or the other official languages, the information provided by Infrastructure Canada in response to the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 5, 2009, for the production of documents.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion was agreed to.

It was agreed, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 3, — That recommendations Nos. 1 to 5 inclusively be adopted with the following amendment: that the appearance on December 1, 2009, by Shahid Minto, the Procurement Ombudsman, be extended to two hours from one hour (recommendation No. 4).

Rob Anders moved, — That the determination of the Committee agenda be made by the entire committee during regular meetings of the committee rather than in meetings of its Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

At 5:34 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.