3. Committee Members' Biographies

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.

TBS-Related Committee Activity from the end of the 42nd Parliament

Report:

• Call Centres, of the 2019 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada (tabled: June 19, 2019)
  • GR requested, but cancelled by Parliamentary dissolution Recommendations made to TBS:

    Recommendations made to SSC:

    • (#4) Provide the Committee a report on progress made in clarifying direction so that service standards follow TB policy, that standards are published, and that performance results and transparent and verified.
    • (#5) Provide the Committee a report on progress in integrating call centres as part of the government-wide approach to client services.
    • (#6) Provide the Committee a report outlining progress made in modernizing call centres. (SSC sent an update to the Committee in July and could be called to provide a response)
• Public Accounts of Canada 2018
  • Report 57
    • Presented to the House: Wednesday, February 6, 2019
  • Government Response
    • Presented to the House: Thursday, June 6, 2019

Committee Members

Chair
Kelly Block	Conservative	Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek	New Member
Vice-Chair
Lloyd Longfield	Liberal	Guelph	Returning Member
Maxime Blanchette- Joncas	Bloc Québécois	Rimouski-Neigette— Témiscouata—Les Basques	Returning Member Public Accounts Critic
Members
Luc Berthold	Conservative	Mégantic—L’Érable	New Member TBS Critic
Phillip Lawrence	Conservative	Northumberland— Peterborough South	New Member National Revenue Critic
Len Webber	Conservative	Calgary Confederation	New Member
Matthew Green	New Democratic Party	Hamilton Centre	Returning Member TBS Critic
Kody Blois	Liberal	Kings—Hants	New Member
Greg Fergus	Liberal	Hull—Alymer	Returning Member (Non-voting - 42nd Parliament) Parliamentary Secretary TBS and Digital Government
Francesco Sorbara	Liberal	Vaughan—Woodbridge	Returning Member (43rd-1 Parliament)
Jean Yip	Liberal	Scarborough—Agincourt	Returning Member (42nd Parliament)

TBS Related Committee Activity – 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session

Anticipated Business

• Public Accounts of Canada 2020
• Spring 2020 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada

Meeting Summaries

Thursday, October 22, 2020 - Orientation Briefing (CAAF & Past Chairs)

The Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF) appeared for the first hour. The CAAF explained the role of the PACP Committee and made suggestions on how the Committee conduct its business in order to be most effective.

The four former PACP chairs appeared in the second hour. The witnesses emphasized the role of PACP in holding departmental officials accountable and encouraged the members adopt a non- partisan, collaborative approach to their work.

Thursday, October 15, 2020 – Election of Chair

The Committee held the first meeting of the second session of the 43rd Parliament. Ms. Kelly Bloc (CPC) was named the Chair of the Committee, and Mr. Lloyd Longfield (LPC) and M. Maxime Blanchette Joncas (BQ) were re-instated as first and second Vice-Chairs.

The Committee passed several routine motions, including a motion that was adopted at several other committees to have the witnesses provide opening remarks 72 hours in advance whenever possible, opening remarks from witnesses will also be limited to 5 minutes. Additionally, a series of motions requiring the organizations under performance audits by the Office of the Auditor General to provide action plans to the Committee were also adopted.

The Committee moved into regular business to consider motions proposed by all parties for the future studies of the Committee.

The NDP moved a motion to invite the past Chairs to do an orientation session for the current Committee. The LPC suggested an amendment, which was accepted by the NDP, to include the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF) in the orientation session. The motion was adopted with the amendment. The Committee agreed this meeting should be a priority.

The CPC moved a motion to invite the Auditor General for the next meeting of the Committee for one hour in camera and one hour in public. The motion was amended to allow for scheduling flexibility for the Auditor General to appear for the next or subsequent meeting. The motion was adopted with the amendment.

The first meeting between Members was cordial, productive and was adjourned an hour earlier than scheduled.

TBS Related Committee Activity – 43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Anticipated Business

• Public Accounts of Canada 2019
• Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada

Meeting Summaries

Thursday, February 27, 2020 – Briefing with the Office of the Auditor General

The Committee met to receive a 90-minute introductory briefing from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) and to discuss future Committee business in camera. The issue of adequate funding for the OAG figured most prominently in exchanges between Committee members and witnesses. The interim Auditor General echoed comments made during the previous Parliament suggesting his Office’s current funding has not allowed it to effectively deliver on its mandate or to keep pace with increases in Government spending. There was also discussion on the potential establishment of a separate independent funding process or mechanism through which the OAG could make funding requests, instead of having to make the request through the Department of Finance’s budget exercise.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 – Election of Chair

Dean Allison (CPC) was elected Chair of the Committee. Mr. Allison was a member of PACP in the first session of the 38th Parliament. Lloyd Longfield (LPC) was elected first vice-chair; Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (BQ) was elected second vice-chair by secret ballot. The Committee adopted a number of standard routine motions. Of note, the Committee adopted a motion requiring that organizations invited to appear on the topic of an OAG report submit their action plans to the Committee no later than 48 hours before their appearance (in the 42nd Parliament, this submission was required prior to an appearance, “when feasible.”) During discussion on future Committee business, Pat Kelly (CPC) raised the issue of perceived inadequate government funding of the OAG. The matter received some attention during the 42nd Parliament and has been raised in the 43rd Parliament in the context of the CPC Opposition Motion calling on the AG to conduct an audit of the Government’s “Investing in Canada Plan,” adopted by the House on January 29, 2020.

Kelly Block (Saskatchewan - Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek)

Conservative Chair

• Elected as the Member of Parliament in 2015 for Carlton Trail— Eagle Creek, previously for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar from 2008-2015
• Served as vice-chair on the Standing Committee on Trade, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament.
• Member of the Liaison Standing Committee.
• Previous member of the Standing Committee of Government Operations and Estimates in the 43rd and 41st Parliament, the Standing Committee of Finance in the 40th Parliament.
• Served as the Opposition critic for Public Services and Procurement Canada (appointed by Andrew Scheer).
• Prior to her election, Mrs. Block served two terms as the first female mayor of Waldheim, Saskatchewan, as chairperson of the Gabriel Springs Health District, and was awarded the Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year – Rising Star – Award in June 2010.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics included: the acquisition of government buildings for departments or agencies and rented space in government buildings
  • Committees (OGGO):
    • Questioned officials about how the government will prioritize the signed PPE manufacturer contracts. Showed concern that Finance, and the Government of Canada isn’t preparing and releasing a budget for Canadians.
    • Questioned TBS officials on providing guidelines for sole-source government contracts.
  • Committees (COVI):
    • Requested that PSPC give the names of companies in sole-sourced PPE Contracts (and how many of those companies were Canadians).
  • Question Period:
    • Asked about PSPC missing its office modernization goal by 50% and if the minister and her cabinet colleagues would be cut off from further renovations.
• 42nd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics included: the sale of federally owned airports and budgets for Minister’s Offices

Lloyd Longfield (Ontario—Guelph)

Liberal First Vice-Chair

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Guelph in 2015.
• Former member of the Public Accounts Committee (PACP) in the 43rd Parliament and is a standing Member of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (ENVI).
• Former Executive Director of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, and former business executive.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Nothing to note.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Québec—Rimouski-Neigette – Témiscouata – Les Basques)

Bloc Québécois Second vice-chair

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for Rimouski-Neigette— Témiscouata—Les Basques in the 2019 federal election.
• BQ Critic for Public Accounts
• Preceded in his riding by Guy Caron who served as the leader of the NDP from 2017 to 2019.
• Business Administration graduate from the University of Quebec in Rimouski and former administrative officer at the Business Development Bank of Canada.
• Was regional president of the Youth Forum of the Bloc Québécois.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topic Included: Asked questions regarding Government services in the Lower St. Lawrence.
  • Committees (PACP):
    • Questioned officials about the reluctance to enforce recommendations made by the Auditor General. Showed concern for the lack of oversight of all processes involving the Phoenix pay system, including procurement, tendering and development.
  • Question Period:
    • Topics Included: Expressed concern regrading the share of contracts the Government gave to Davie shipyard under the national shipbuilding strategy and emphasized that the Bloc Québécois plans on promoting the Davie shipyard to ensure that it gets its fair share.

Luc Berthold (Mégantic—L’Érable)

Conservative Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for Mégantic—L'Érable in 2015.
• Critic for TBS.
• Previously the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
• Prior to his election, Mr. Berthold was Nathalie Normandeau’s Political Assistant, and communications advisor for the Leader of the Official Opposition in 1999, the Interim Director of communications for Quebec’s Liberal Party in 2006, and worked as a speaker, coach and gave leadership training sessions.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics Included: Asked questions regarding Infrastructure projects, and about the Building Canada Fund.
  • Committees (TRAN):
    • Questioned how many projects have been announced and funded under the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, and showed concern that members of the Liberal Party voted against additional funding to the Auditor General.
  • Committees (AGRI):
    • Requested information regarding what repercussions opening up the Canadian market to the U.S. would have on supply managed producers?
  • Question Period:
    • Expressed concern that the Liberal government failed to spend 40% of the promised funding for infrastructure and asked the President of the Treasury Board to account for why.
    • Asked the President of the Treasury Board to explain why the federal government did not provide any compensation for egg and poultry producers?
    • Asked that with the additional funding in these supplementary estimates (2019-2020), how many aviation technicians and pilots would be hired to expand the defence team?
• 42nd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Asked question about Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency contracts.
    • Asked about Infrastructure funding.
    • Proposed tax increases on small businesses.

Phillip Lawrence (Northumberland—Peterborough South)

Conservative Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Northumberland—Peterborough South in the 2019 federal election.
• Shadow Minister of National Revenue.
• Former member of Standing Committee of Justice and Human Rights.
• Prior to his election, Mr. Lawrence received his BA from Brock University in Political Science, he attended Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of business to obtain his law degree and MBA, and volunteered at the Financial Planning Standards Council.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics Included: gave Notice regarding the contract given to Security Council Report.
  • Committees (AGRI):
    • Questioned officials about what the total cost of the carbon tax is to agriculture.
  • Committees (COVI):
    • Asked why the Prime Minister sole-sourced a contract for over $100 million to buy two brand new private jets to add to the government's fleet. Questioned why the military was given 40 year old F-18 planes while the Prime Minister sole-sourced $100 million dollar private jets?

Len Webber (Calgary Confederation)

Conservative Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Confederation in 2015.
• Former Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Health in the 42nd Parliament.
• Previously a member on the Standing Committee on Health, the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada of the Standing Committee on Health and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Health.
• Prior to his election, Mr. Webber was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary- Foothills from 2004 to 2014, work as an apprentice electrician and managed his own contracting company for 10 years, and served as vice president and director of the Webber Academy, a private, non-profit school in southwest Calgary for children from junior kindergarten to grade 12 founded by his father.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics Included: questions regarding Canada First Defence Strategy projects, and government-issued credit cards.
  • Committees (HESA):
    • Questioned officials about the Supplementary estimates (B) 2019-2020 in regard to an approximate $5 million dollars of funding for the advisory committee on the charitable sector, the Canada workers benefit, and the organ and tissue donor registry. The member continued to ask whether the federal government had reached an agreement with the provinces and territories to create a national organ donor registry, and if that is what the money was for?

Matthew Green (Ontario—Hamilton Centre)

NDP Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament foe Hamilton Centre in the 2019 federal election in the riding formerly held by NDP MP David Christopherson.
• NDP Critic for National Revenue/CRA, Public Services and Procurement.
• Former Councilor for the City of Hamilton (2014 to 2018).
• Member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP), the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO), and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
• Member of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAAF) and the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM).

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Written Questions:
    • Topics Included: questions regarding tax fairness motion, and a Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility.
  • Committees (ETHI):
    • Questioned how often Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau asked the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for advice.
  • Committees (OGGO):
    • Asked if Deloitte was a procurement expert.
    • Asked the Procurement Ombudsman what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the businesses that have received funds and government contracts have actually used them for their intended purpose? Does this office play a role in mediating the results of the contracts that have been put in place, or is that left up to individual departments?
    • Expressed concern regarding whether compensation has been settled for all employees affected by Pheonix.
  • Question Period:
    • Topics Included: questions concerning outsourcing of government contracts & dismissal of a public servant for comments made about the Prime Minister. Expressed concern for Government Accountability.

Kody Blois (Kings—Hants)

Liberal Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Kings—Hants in the 2019 federal election, in the riding formerly held by former TBS President Scott Brison.
• Current member of the Standing Committee for Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
• Former member of the Standing Committee for Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
• Blois completed degrees in commerce, law, and public administration - which sparked his interest in serving his community.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Committee (ARGI):
    • Made reference to his predecessor, Scott Brison, having been a part of an initiative under the Treasury Board to study how the government can lower GHG emissions for farmers. Asked what the government was doing to ensure green agriculture.

Greg Fergus (Hull—Alymer)

Liberal Member

Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Hull—Aylmer in 2015.
• Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
• Former member of the Standing Committee on Finance, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
• Current and Former Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government. Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
• Former National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada and former political staffer in various Ministerial offices.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• In the 43rd Parliament:
  • Signs Order Paper Question responses on behalf of the President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Digital Government.
  • QP: Answered a question on the security and protection of Canadians’ personal information.

Francesco Sorbara (Vaughn—Woodbridge)

Liberal Member

• Elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Vaughan— Woodbridge in 2015.
• Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
• Former member of the Standing Committee on Finance, as well as the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Finance, and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue.
• Sorbara is a chartered financial analyst and worked in the global financial markets for nearly 20 years in both Canada and the United States for Scotiabank, JPMorgan Chase, and global credit rating agency DBRS.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• In the 43rd Parliament:
  • Committee (FINA):
    • Asked is Ms. Bahen believed it was appropriate for the government, for political parties, to mandate audits of charities.

Jean Yip (Scarborough—Agincourt)

Liberal Member

• First elected in a by-election on December 11, 2017 as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Scarborough—Agincourt. Elected in 2019 as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Scarborough—Agincourt.
• Current member of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations.
• Former member of the Public Accounts committee, and the Government Operations and Estimates Committee.

Interest in TBS Portfolio

• 43rd Parliament
  • Nothing to note.