OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met in a televised session at 8:44 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. John McKay, presiding.

It was agreed, — That Paul Sauvé be permitted to be assisted by counsel when he appears today.

On motion of Denis Coderre, ORDERED, — That the evidence to be given by Paul Sauvé in relation to the management of the department of Public Works and Government Services in awarding of contracts for the renovation of Parliamentary Buildings be taken under oath.

Paul Sauvé was called, duly sworn in and examined.

At 10:43 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:43 a.m., the sitting resumed.

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

1. That the Committee, for its meeting of Thursday, November 25, 2010, on the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, request the appearance of the Parliamentary Budget Officer for the first hour of the meeting and the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and its relevant officials for the second hour of the meeting;

2. That the Committee, for its meeting of Thursday, December 2, 2010, request the appearance of the President of the Treasury Board and its relevant officials, and relevant officials from the Privy Council Office for the first hour of the meeting on the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and the appearance of relevant officials from Infrastructure Canada for the second hour of the meeting on the study on the effectiveness, management and operation of the expenses incurred for the G8/G20 Summits;

3. That the appearance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Industry as part of the study on the effectiveness, management and operation of the expenses incurred for the G8/G20 Summits, initially scheduled for Thursday, December 2, 2010, be postponed to Tuesday, December 7, 2010;

4. That the Committee, for its meeting of Thursday, December 9, 2010, on the study on the effectiveness, management and operation of the expenses incurred for the G8/G20 Summits, request the appearance of the outgoing mayor of Toronto, David Miller, as well as the Greater Toronto Hotel Association;

5. That the documents received from the Department of Public Works and Government Services in response to the motion by Geoff Regan on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, on the study of the management of the Department of Public Works and Government Services in the awarding of contracts for the renovation of parliamentary buildings be designated as exhibit; moreover, that the Chair be authorized to communicate all these documents to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts pursuant to the request received from this Committee on Friday, November 5, 2010;

6. That the analysts be instructed to prepare a draft report for the Committee based on their briefing note regarding the evidence of Rahim Jaffer as part of the study on renewable energy projects funded by the government;

7. That the confidential executive summary of the contract between SNC-Lavalin and the government concerning the study on federal buildings maintenance contracts be made available for consultation at the Office of the Clerk by members of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure or one single member designated from their staff, and that one member of the Subcommittee may designate another member of the Committee from his or her party to consult the document if he or she is unable to do so;

8. That the analysts be instructed to prepare a draft report for the study on the freeze on departmental budget envelopes and government operations.

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

Geoff Regan moved, — That the Committee orders the Ontario Provincial Police to provide it with the details of all their costs associated with the G8 and G20 Summits, including for goods, services and overtime salaries, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the goods or services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) how the contract was awarded, (v) whether the cost was associated with the G8, G20 or both; that the Committee orders that this information be provided in both electronic and paper form by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2010; that the Committee also empowers the Chair to take whatever actions are necessary, including the issuance of a summons, to ensure that either the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police appears before it on Thursday, November 25, 2010, to explain the expenses of the OPP as they relate to the G-8 and G-20 Summits.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “that the Committee also empowers the Chair to take whatever actions are necessary, including the issuance of a summons, to ensure that either the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police appears before it on Thursday, November 25, 2010, to explain the expenses of the OPP as they relate to the G-8 and G-20 summits”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee orders the Ontario Provincial Police to provide it with the details of all their costs associated with the G8 and G20 Summits, including for goods, services and overtime salaries, providing for each contract (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) a description of the goods or services provided, (iii) the value of the contract, (iv) how the contract was awarded, (v) whether the cost was associated with the G8, G20 or both; that the Committee orders that this information be provided in both electronic and paper form by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2010.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: Diane Bourgeois, Denis Coderre, Marc Lemay, Pat Martin, Geoff Regan — 5; NAYS: Paul Calandra, Blaine Calkins, Jacques Gourde, Daniel Petit, Chris Warkentin — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, the motion was agreed to.

At 10:57 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.