CANADIAN COUNCIL OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES


UNIVERSAL IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES IN CANADA -- Continued


31.  Ministers shall not be appointed to the Public Accounts Committee. (5.5)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta Yukon British Columbia
House of Commons
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Ministers have been members in the past but currently are not.
British Columbia -- 2-3 Ministers sit on the committee, traditionally.
Nova Scotia -- Five ministers on the PAC.
Quebec -- The ministers are not committee members except when they study law projects or when the Assembly decides on this.
Yukon -- Committee agrees but it isn't always possible in a small House.




32.  The Public Accounts Committee shall have funds budgeted to allow it to perform the task assigned to it. (6.1)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
Manitoba
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
House of Commons
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

British Columbia -- Money appropriated under Vote 1 (Legislative Assembly) though committee is encouraged to prepare a budget, expenditures from which are approved by Mr. Speaker, on request of the Chairperson and/or the Clerk of Committees, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly.
Quebec -- Each committee receives a budget of $25,000 to fulfill all of their mandates (legislation, credit, parliamentary control, etc.) An additional budget can be accorded on the bases of the purpose. In the context of the budget, a committee can engage personnel that they desire and acquire all other necessary resources.




33.  The Public Accounts Committee shall have meeting space provided suitable for public hearings and meetings. (6.2)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
British Columbia
House of Commons
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

New Brunswick -- If a member wishes to debate a report the Rules provide the opportunity.
Quebec -- Each committee receives a budget of $25,000 to fulfill all of their mandates (legislation, credits, parliamentary control, etc.) An additional budget can be accorded on the bases of the prupose. In the context of the budget, a committee can engage personnel that they desire and acquire all other necessary resources.




34.  Sufficient staff shall be provided to the Public Accounts Committee to assist its members to carry out their mandate in a productive effective manner. (6.3)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia Alberta Nova Scotia
House of Commons Manitoba
Newfoundland Prince Edward Island
Northwest Territories Saskatchewan
Ontario Yukon
Quebec


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Administrative Assistant provided to the Committee; Each political party plus individual MLAs have research funds to carry out necessary research.
Nova Scotia -- No specific research position.
Saskatchewan -- No independent research staff.




35.  The Chariman shall be a member of the official opposition party, who is elected by the Committee at the beginning of the first session of Parliament and shall serve for the life of the legislature or until replaced. If a vacancy occurs a new Chairman shall be elected immediately from among the members of the official opposition party. (7.1)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia Alberta Ontario
House of Commons Nova Scotia Northwest Territories
Manitoba Quebec
Newfoundland Yukon
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Not appointed by Committee or for life of the legislature; Chairman is member of opposition party, chosen by the opposition from their own MLAs.
Federal - House of Commons -- Chairman elected at beginning of each session.
Northwest Territories -- Non-party system. Chairman chosen from among Committee Members.
Nova Scotia -- Chairman chosen by Opposition.
Ontario -- Opposition Chair Sessional.
Quebec -- Three of the eight committees are presided over by a member of the opposition; five by a member of the ministerial majority. The chairman is elected by the majority of each parliamentary group; nothing stops a committee from being presided over by one or the other groups. The mandate of a speaker is two years.


The Standing Order expects that every committee must replace a vacancy of the chairperson in thirty days.
Yukon -- Committee agrees but that isn't the case this time.




36.  The role and responsibility of the Charman is much broader than may be indicated by the powers bestowed upon the Chair and the success of the Committee often rests with the Chairman and is a result of the effectiveness of the Chairman. (7.2)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta Prince Edward Island
British Columbia
House of Commons
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Northwest Territories -- Non-party system. Chairman chosen from among Committee Members.
Quebec -- The Point of Order stipulates that the Chairman has the knowledge to organize and lead the work of the committee.




Vice-Chairman

37.  The Vice-Chairman shall be either a member of the official opposition party or the government party. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Committee at the beginning of the first session of Parliament and serve for the life of the legislature or until replaced. If a vacancy occurs, a new Vice-Chairman shall be elected immediately. (8.1)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia Alberta Manitoba
House of Commons Yukon Ontario
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Vice-Chairman is member of government caucus, chosen by the government from their own MLAs.
Federal - House of Commons -- Vice-Chairman elected at the beginning of each session.
Manitoba -- Manitoba has never elected a vice-chairman for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Nova Scotia -- Government member.
Ontario -- Opposition Vice-Chairman Sessional.
Yukon -- Committee does not have an "official" Vice-Chair at this time.




38.  The Vice-Chairman shall be either a member of the official oppositon party or the government party. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Committee at the beginning of the first session of Parliament and serve for the life of the legislature of until replaced. If a vacancy occures, a new Vice-Chairman shall be elected immediately. (8.1)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta Yukon Manitoba
British Columbia
House of Commons
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Quebec


Explanatory Notes

Manitoba -- Manitoba has never elected a vice-chairman for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
New Brunswick -- No legislation, but it can be alone.




Steering Committee

39.  The Steering Committee shall be established at the Public Accounts Committee's first meeting. Members of the Steering Committee shall include the Chairman and one member from each party caucus. (9.1)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia
Alberta
House of Commons
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan


Northwest Territories


Explanatory Notes

British Columbia -- Informal arrangement; current terms of reference preclude the formation of any subcommittee.
Manitoba -- There has never been a steering committee.
New Brunswick -- No legislation, but it can be alone.
Nova Scotia -- No steering committee.
Yukon -- Not applicable.




40.  The role of the Steering Committee is to review sensitive documents and to monitor the progress of Committee work. (9.2)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Newfoundland House of Commons Alberta
Ontario
British Columbia
Quebec
Manitoba


Nova Scotia


Prince Edward Island


Saskatchewan


Yukon


Northwest Territories


Explanatory Notes

Federal - House of Commons -- Planning work of the committee.
Manitoba -- There has never been a steering committee.
Quebec -- The secretary executes the decisions for the committee, notably to ensure that the ministers supply the information or reports requried by the committee.
Yukon -- Not applicable.

Contents . . . Previous (21-30) . . . Next (41-50)


[ Return to: Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees Home Page ]

Copyright © 1996: Queen's Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada