Navdeep Bains made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:25 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 4:27 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Questioning of the witness resumed.

Iqra Khalid moved, — That the committee reaffirm the independence of the Auditor General of Canada to conduct her work free of interference and echo the concerns of the Auditor General of Canada regarding the Conservative Party House order of June 10, 2024, that ordering her office to produce her audit file on Sustainable Development Technology Canada to the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel compromises her independence and is likely to discourage departments, agencies and Crown corporations from providing free and timely access to information required for her audits to go forward.

Debate arose thereon.

Rick Perkins raised a potential question of privilege regarding Navdeep Bains’ prevarication in his testimony, and the refusal to provide answers to questions.

Rick Perkins moved, — That the committee instruct the clerk and analysts to prepare a report to the House, which the Chair shall table forthwith, outlining the potential breach of privilege concerning Navdeep Bains’ refusal to answer questions, certain questions which the committee put to him and his prevarication in answering others.

At 5:26 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:36 p.m., the meeting resumed.

A point of order was raised regarding the procedural acceptability of the consideration of a motion relating to privilege when a decision had not yet been rendered for a motion already before the committee.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled that the potential question of privilege raised by Rick Perkins would supersede the motion of Iqra Khalid, as it relates to a motion to prepare a report on a matter related to privilege.

At 5:43 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:47 p.m., the meeting resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

A debate arose thereon concerning the motion moved by Rick Perkins.

At 6:58 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 7:07 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Debate continued on the motion of Rick Perkins.

At 7:32 p.m., Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné took the Chair.

At 7:37 p.m., John Williamson took the Chair.

At 7:46 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 7:51 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Debate continued on the motion of Rick Perkins.

At 8:21 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 8:33 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Debate continued on the motion of Rick Perkins.

At 8:42 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 8:44 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The debate continued on the motion of Rick Perkins.

At 9:52 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 11:07 a.m., on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the meeting resumed.

The debate continued on the motion of Rick Perkins.

At 12:07 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:45 p.m., the meeting resumed.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That notwithstanding ongoing debate of the motion of Rick Perkins, that the committee proceed to hear the motion of Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné.

Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné moved, — That the committee summon Navdeep Bains to appear before the committee for three hours, on the matter of SDTC, within 21 days of the adoption of this motion.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the committee summon Navdeep Bains to appear before the committee for two hours, on the matter of SDTC, within 21 days of the adoption of this motion.

Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné moved, — That the committee do now adjourn.

On motion of Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, it was agreed on division, — That the committee do now adjourn.