OGGO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met at 11:34 a.m. this day, in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street, the Vice-Chair, Chris Warkentin, presiding.

Alister Smith made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

Marilyn McPherson made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

Alex Lakroni made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

By unanimous consent, the Chair called Vote 1c under PRIVY COUNCIL, Votes 5c, 8c and 9c under PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES and Votes 1c, 15c and 20c under TREASURY BOARD.

Vote 1c under PRIVY COUNCIL, Votes 5c, 8c and 9c under PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES and Votes 1c, 15c and 20c under TREASURY BOARD carried on division.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report Vote 1c under PRIVY COUNCIL, Votes 5c, 8c and 9c under PUBLIC WORKS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES and Votes 1c, 15c and 20c under TREASURY BOARD to the House.

Geoff Regan moved, — That the Committee request Public Works and Government Services Canada to provide it with the following documents, in electronic form, within five business days: (a) the 2005 estimates for the $5 billion parliamentary precinct renovations the Auditor General referenced in her testimony before the Committee on Thursday, February 3, 2011; (b) the most recent update of the costs and progress of those renovations; (c) a detailed breakdown of the $94 million increase in the budget for the West Block renovations; (d) and the latest timelines for completing those renovations.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 0.

At 12:57 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:58, the Committee resumed sitting in camera.

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

1. That the Committee, for its meeting of Tuesday, March 1, 2011, on the Supplementary Estimates (C) 2010-2011, invite officials from the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Public Works and Government Services and the Privy Council Office to appear;

2. That the meeting of Thursday, March 3, 2011, be dedicated to the consideration of the draft report on the freeze on departmental budget envelopes and government operations, which must be updated as a result of recent testimony the Committee received on this study;

3. That the first hour of the meeting of Tuesday, March 8, 2011, also be dedicated to the draft report, but that the second hour be dedicated to the consideration of the appointment process of a new Public Service Integrity Commissioner, and that the Committee invite officials from the Privy Council Office, as well as Edward Keyserlingk, to appear;

4. That the meeting of Thursday, March 10, 2011, be dedicated to expenditures on advertising by the government and that each recognized party be asked to electronically submit to the Clerk by Tuesday, February 22, 2011, their list of suggested witnesses for this study;

5. That, for its meeting of Tuesday, March 22, 2011, the Committee ask the President of the Public Service Commission and PSC officials to appear to present the PSC’s assessment of the Public Service Employment Act;

6. That the Chair be authorized to present to the House the Committee’s report, “A Question of Privilege,” prepared as part of the Committee’s study on renewable energy projects funded by the government;

7. That the Committee retract its request for documentation from the Department of Public Works and Government Services as part of the Committee’s study on the Department’s management in the awarding of contracts for the renovation of parliamentary buildings, which was the subject of a motion adopted on Tuesday, November 2, 2010;

8. That the Committee’s tour of the parliamentary precinct renovations proposed by the Department of Public Works and Government Services be reviewed later this spring.

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

It was agreed, — That Edward Keyserlingk be invited to appear on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, in the context of the study on the appointment of a new Public Service Integrity Commissioner, notwithstanding any decisions made previously.

At 1:08 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.