Public Accounts

The committee held its first meeting of the new Parliament to elect a chair and two vice-chairs. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the official opposition. Stephanie Kusie nominated John Williamson, who was elected chair by acclamation. Jean Yip was elected first vice-chair, and Sébastien Lemire was elected second vice-chair.

The committee then proceeded to adopt a series of routine motions governing its operations, including rules for meetings without a quorum, witness testimony and questioning, document distribution, working meals, witness expenses, in camera meetings, notice of motions, and technical tests for witnesses. These motions were read into the record and adopted by voice vote.

The chair noted that additional routine motions had been circulated by email and would be taken up at a later meeting. He also informed members of an upcoming annual conference of auditors general and public accounts committees in Saskatchewan, inviting members to indicate their interest.

The committee agreed to a motion requiring that organizations subject to an audit by the Office of the Auditor General provide a detailed action plan addressing agreed-upon recommendations within six months of the audit being tabled, and that organizations invited to appear provide such a plan 48 hours before the hearing. The chair proposed scheduling a meeting on Thursday to hear from the Auditor General and the environment commissioner on nine recently tabled reports.