Master Overview of the Committee
Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP)
Mandate of the Committee
When the Speaker tables a report by the Auditor General in the House of Commons, it is automatically referred to the Public Accounts Committee. The Committee selects the chapters of the report it wants to study and calls the Auditor General and senior public servants from the audited organizations to appear before it to respond to the Office of the Auditor General’s findings. The Committee also reviews the federal government’s consolidated financial statements – the Public Accounts of Canada – and examines financial and/or accounting shortcomings raised by the Auditor General. At the conclusion of a study, the Committee may present a report to the House of Commons that includes recommendations to the government for improvements in administrative and financial practices and controls of federal departments and agencies.
Government policy, and the extent to which policy objectives are achieved, are generally not examined by the Public Accounts Committee. Instead, the Committee focuses on government administration – the economy and efficiency of program delivery as well as the adherence to government policies, directives and standards. The Committee seeks to hold the government to account for effective public administration and due regard for public funds.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3) of the House of Commons, the mandate of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is to review and report on:
- The Public Accounts of Canada;
- All reports of the Auditor General of Canada;
- The Office of the Auditor General’s Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Report; and,
- Any other matter that the House of Commons shall, from time to time, refer to the Committee.
The Committee also reviews:
- The federal government’s consolidated financial statements;
- The Public Accounts of Canada;
- Makes recommendations to the government for improvements in spending practices;
- Considers the Estimates of the Office of the Auditor General.
Other Responsibilities:
- The economy, efficiency and effectiveness of government administration;
- The quality of administrative practices in the delivery of federal programs; and,
- Government’s accountability to Parliament with regard to federal spending.
Committee Members
|
NAME & ROLE |
PARTY |
RIDING |
PACP MEMBER SINCE |
|
CHAIR |
|||
|
John Williamson |
Conservative |
New Brunswick Southwest |
February 2022 |
|
VICE-CHAIR |
|||
|
Jean Yip |
Liberal |
Scarborough—Agincourt |
January 2018 |
|
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Critic for Public Accounts; Pandemic Programs; Economic Development Agencies |
Bloc Québécois |
Terrbonne |
December 2021 |
|
MEMBERS |
|||
|
Garnett Genuis Critic for International Development |
Conservative |
Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan |
October 2022 |
|
Michael Kram |
Conservative |
Regina—Wascana |
October 2022 |
|
Kelly McCauley |
Conservative |
Edmonton West |
October 2022 |
|
Blake Desjarlais Critic for TBS; Diversity and Inclusion; Youth; Sport and PSE |
New Democratic Party |
Edmonton Greisbach |
December 2021 |
|
Valerie Bradford |
Liberal |
Kitchener South – Hespeler |
December 2021 |
|
Han Dong |
Liberal |
Don Valley North |
December 2021 |
|
Peter Fragiskatos Parliamentary Secretary National Revenue |
Liberal |
London North Centre |
December 2021 |
|
Brenda Shanahan |
Liberal |
Châteauguay—Lacolle |
December 2021; and Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 |
Bios of the Committee Members
John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest)
Conservative
Chair
- Elected as MP for New Brunswick Southwest in 2011, he was then defeated in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 & 2021.
- Currently also serves as a Member of the Liaison Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- Previously served on many committees, including PACP for a brief time in 2013
- Prior to his election, M. Williamson occupied different positions. He was an editorial writer for the National Post from 1998 to 2001, then joined the Canadian Taxpayers Federation until 2008. In 2009, he was hired by Stephen Harper as director of communications in the PMO.
Jean Yip (Scarborough - Agincourt)
Liberal
First Vice-Chair
- Elected as MP for Scarborough—Agincourt in a by-election on December 11, 2017, and re-elected in 2019 & 2021.
- Has served on Public Accounts (since 2018), as well as Government Operations and Canada-China committees in the past.
- Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- Before her election, Ms. Yip was an insurance underwriter and constituency assistant.
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne)
Bloc Québécois
Second Vice-Chair
- Elected as MP for Terrebonne in the 2021 federal election.
- BQ Critic for Public Accounts; Pandemic Programs; and Federal Economic Development Agencies.
- Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- Worked at the European Investment Bank and at PWC London.
- Return to Quebec in 2017 to pursue a career in the Quebec business world.
Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan)
Conservative
- Elected as MP for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan in 2015, re-elected ion 2019 and 2021
- Conservative Shadow Minister for International Development
- Also serves on the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development
- Served on multiple standing committees in the past, including Citizenship and Immigration, Canada-China Relations and Scrutiny of Regulations
- Prior to his election, Mr. Genuis was an assistant to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and adviser on the staff of former minister Rona Ambrose.
Michael Kram (Regina—Wascana)
Conservative
- Elected as MP for Regina—Wascana in 2019, and re-elected in 2021.
- Served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, as well as a Member of the standing committees on Transpart, Infrastration and Communities and International Trade.
- Prior to his election, Mr. Kram worked for 20 years in the information technology sector, including a number of contract positions with the Department of National Defence.
Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West)
Conservative
- Elected as the Member of Parliament in 2015 for Edmonton West, re-elected in 2019 and 2021
- Also serves on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs as well as the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
- Previously served on the COVID-19 Pandemic committee as well as the Subcomittee on Agenda and Procedure of OGGO in 2020
- Before his election in 2015, Mr. McCauley was a hospitality executive specialized in managing hotels and convention centres
- He has a graduate of BCIT in the Hospitality Management program
- He has a history of advocacy for seniors and veterans
Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Greisbach)
NDP
- Elected as MP for Edmonton Greisbach in 2021.
- NDP Critic for Treasury Board; Diversity and Inclusion; Youth; Sport; and Post-secondary Education.
- Also a member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
- First openly Two-Spirit person to be an MP, and Alberta’s only Indigenous Member of Parliament.
Valerie Bradford (Kitchener South – Hespeler)
Liberal
- Elected as MP for Kitchener South – Hespeler in 2021.
- Also sits on the Science and Research committee and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Science and Research
- Director of the Canada-Africa Association
- Prior to her election, Ms. Bradford worked as an economic development professional for the City of Kitchener.
Han Dong (Don Valley North)
Liberal
- Elected as MP for Don Valley North in 2019, and re-elected in 2021.
- Also sits on the Industry and Technology committee.
- Has served on the Ethics, and Human Resources committees in the past.
- Co-Chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association
- Prior to his election, Mr. Dong worked with Toronto-based high-tech company dedicated to building safer communities and served as the leader of the Chinatown Gateway Committee established by Mayor John Tory.
Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre)
Liberal
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
- Elected as MP for London North Centre in 2015, and re-elected in 2019 & 2021.
- Serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue.
- Has served on the Finance, Canada-China, Human Resources, Public Safety, and Foreign Affairs committees in the past.
- Served as a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP).
- Prior to his election, Mr. Fragiskatos was a political science professor at Huron University College and King’s University College, as well as a frequent media commentator on international issues.
Brenda Shanahan (Châteauguay—Lacolle)
Liberal
- Elected as MP for Châteauguay—Lacolle in 2015, and re-elected in 2019 & 2021.
- Caucus Chair of the Liberal Party
- Has served on Public Accounts (2016-2018), as well as Ethics, Government Operations, and MAID committees in the past.
- Has served as a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP).
- Prior to her election, Ms. Shanahan was a banker and social worker, who has also been involved in a number of organizations such as Amnesty International and the Canadian Federation of University Women.