Karen Hogan and Mairead Lavery made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

John Nater moved, — That, Given the Auditor General’s Report 8, 2024, on the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which revealed “significant issues regarding the oversight and administration of public funds” and concerns related to governance, procurement, and risk management, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g), the committee commence a study on this audit and invite the following witnesses in relation to the study:

• The Ministers of National Revenue, Finance and International Trade
• Bob Hamilton, Commissioner, Canada Revenue Agency
• Chris Forbes, Deputy Minister of Finance
• Representatives from Accenture, the firm involved in CEBA administration
• Vivian Abdelmessih, Chair of the Export Development Canada (EDC) Board
• Mairead Lavery, President and CEO of the EDC Executive Team
• Miguel Simard, EDC’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Special Risks, and CEBA

At 5:38 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:41 p.m., the meeting resumed.

A debate arose thereon

Francis Drouin moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Valerie Bradford, Richard Cannings, Francis Drouin, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Iqra Khalid, Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, Jean Yip — 7;

NAYS: Kelly McCauley, Marty Morantz, John Nater — 3.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Iqra Khalid moved, —

That, notwithstanding any previous decision of the committee, in relation to the committee’s future business, it be agreed that:

1. Any further meetings on Report 8, Canada Emergency Business Account, take place after January 27, 2025;
2. One meeting be dedicated to the study of Report 1, ArriveCAN
3. At the conclusion of the meeting on Report 1, ArriveCAN, no more meetings be conducted to hear from witnesses in relation to Report 1, ArriveCAN;
4. Two meetings be dedicated to the study of Report 6, Sustainable Development Technology Canada for the purposes of hearing from Zoë Kolbuc, Andrew Noseworthy, and the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry;
5. At the conclusion of the second meeting on Report 6, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, no more meetings be conducted to hear from witnesses in relation to Report 6, Sustainable Development Technology Canada;
6. Two meetings be dedicated to Report 11, Programs to Assist Seniors;
7. Two meetings be dedicated to Report 9, Digital Validation of Identity to Access Services;
8. The Chair schedule at least two meetings for the consideration of draft reports; and,
9. Notwithstanding a meeting called pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), no meetings of the committee or subcommittee be held during Parliament’s adjournment from December 18th, 2024 to January 26, 2025.

At 5:58 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 6:13 p.m., the meeting resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the motion inadmissible as the motion did not relate directly to the business at hand.

Whereupon, Iqra Khalid appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?" was put and was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Kelly McCauley, Marty Morantz, John Nater, Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné— 4;

NAYS: Valerie Bradford, Richard Cannings, Francis Drouin, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Iqra Khalid, Jean Yip— 6

Accordingly, the Chair’s decision was overturned.