Government Operations and Estimates

The committee held its first meeting of the new session, beginning with the election of officers. Kelly McCauley (CPC) was elected chair, Iqwinder Gaheer (Lib.) was elected first vice-chair, and Marie‑Hélène Gaudreau (BQ) was elected second vice-chair.

The committee then debated unfinished business from the previous Parliament. The chair sought unanimous consent to reinstate a draft report on the New York consul general’s condominium, but members disagreed. Ms. Gaudreau moved that documents from a previous study on Dalian and Coradix—received in 2024 but not distributed due to prorogation—be sent to members’ secure P9 accounts. After debate, the motion was amended to include a written briefing from the clerk. A recorded vote on the amended motion tied at four yeas and four nays, so the motion was not adopted.

The committee also considered a motion from Ms. Block to adopt a past report on postal service in rural and remote communities and request a government response. Ms. Gaudreau agreed after reading the text, and the motion was adopted. Finally, Ms. Block moved that the committee recommend renewing the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s mandate. Some members questioned the appropriateness of such a recommendation. A recorded vote again tied at four yeas and four nays, leaving the motion unresolved.