Emilio Franco, Mollie Royds and Patrice Nadeau made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

Gord Johns moved, — That, in the context of its study of outsourcing of contracts, the committee write to the Auditor General of Canada to recommend an audit of the implementation of the Treasury Board’s Guide to Cost Estimating by departments in relation to make-or-buy decisions and oversight of the Treasury Board with respect to the same.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Julie Vignola moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the expenses of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary for its representation activities abroad and in Canada for the years 2015 to the present; that, in light of the information disclosed during the meeting on Thursday, September 22, 2022, concerning the testimony of representatives of organizations related to the decision-making process and the use of budgets by and for the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary, the committee invite the following witnesses to testify:

• Christine MacIntyre, Deputy Secretary, Policy, Program and Protocol Branch, Office of the Governor General’s Secretary;
• Stewart Wheeler, Chief of Protocol of Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development;
• Senior officials of the Department of Canadian Heritage;
• Senior representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
• Any other witnesses whom the committee deems appropriate to invite;

that testimony take place over for at least three meetings and that the committee begin its study on Monday, October 24, 2022; that the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Department of Canadian Heritage and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police table the financial reports of the expenses incurred during the trips of the Governor General from 2015 to present, as well as copies of invoices associated with the March 2022 trip to the Middle East of the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary, broken down by trip and by item of expenditure including, in particular, accommodation costs, catering costs, caterer costs, travel costs, security costs, and costs for alcohol and drinks, indicating the number people included for each delegation; that the said documents be submitted in English and French and forwarded no later than Friday, October 21, 2022, at 12 p.m. to the clerk of the committee and that the clerk forward them upon receipt to the members of the committee; and that the committee report its observations and recommendations to the House.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.