Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 14 - Fifteenth Report of the Committee
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to present its
FIFTEENTH REPORT
Your committee, to which were referred the 2008-2009 Estimates has, in obedience to the Order of Reference of 28 February 2008, examined the said estimates and herewith present its second interim report.
The 2008-2009 Estimates were tabled in the Senate on 28 February 2008 and subsequently referred for review to the National Finance Committee. As is customary with this committee, several meeting dates were set aside for the review of the Estimates. The committee's initial examination began on 4 March 2008. Officials of the Treasury Board Secretariat outlined and explained the main features of this year's Main Estimates and answered several questions at that time and through written responses at a later date. The particulars of the Interim Supply Bill were made available for the committee's consideration before the end of March and an interim report (the Committee's Eighth Report) was submitted to the Senate in March 2008. Since that date, the committee has continued its examination of the Estimates documents. In all eight hearings were held.
On 29 April 2008, the committee began a series of 4 meetings to examine in greater detail the spending plans of the federal government. At these meetings the committee heard evidence relating to the positions and officers created by the Federal Accountability Act. Numerous officials from government departments, agencies and the Library of Parliament appeared to explain the steps taken to establish the new positions and offices created by the Act. At one meeting, the Honourable Michael Fortier explained the mandate and expected role of the Procurement Ombudsman. The Committee submitted a Report on the Officers and Agents of Parliament Created or Modified by the Federal Accountability Act in May 2008.
Four other meetings were dedicated to the examination of federal infrastructure initiatives. Officials from government departments including: Infrastructure Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Québec, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Industry Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, and representatives of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities testified before the Committee. The findings of the committee are contained in its Report on Infrastructure Programs and Regional Development Agencies date June 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. DAY
Chair