Comparative Jurisdictional Implementation Survey -- Guidelines (21-30)

CANADIAN COUNCIL OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES

IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY: CANADIAN PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES
AND LEGISLATIVE AUDITORS -- Continued

21.	Meetings for planning future work, briefings, reviewing progress and drafting reports be held in camera. (p.41)

Explanatory Notes

Northwest Territories	--	Chairman does this.
Saskatchewan	--	Depending on item of business before the Committee.

22.	Public accounts committees plan, in general terms, the work to be undertaken at the beginning of each session, and prepare formal agendas for public distribution at least one week ahead of each meeting. (p.43)

Explanatory Notes

Northwest Territories

Chairman does this.

23.	Committees arrange for suitable briefing material to be available to members prior to hearings, and if necessary set time aside to review it. (p.43)

Explanatory Notes

Saskatchewan

No independent research staff available to Committee

24.	A verbatim transcript of public accounts committee hearings be prepared and published promptly. (p.44)

25.	Committees keep brief, formal minutes of proceedings. (p.45)

26.	Suitable meeting space, with appropriate facilities, be available to public accounts committees. (p.45)

27.	Public accounts committees schedule sufficient, regular meetings to discharge their responsibilities. (p.47)

Explanatory Notes

Alberta	--	Committee passed a motion at organizational meeting to hold regular meetings.
Northwest Territories	--	Permitted under Rules.
Saskatchewan	--	Twice weekly during Session; at least one week of meetings intersessionally.

28.	Provison be made for legislators who are not members of public accounts committees to attend meetings and participate in the questioning of witnesses, but not to vote. (p.47)

Explanatory Notes

Alberta	--	Beauchesne's, fifth edition, paragraph 766.
Nova Scotia	--	Substitutes have voting privileges.
Yukon	--	But so far never done.
Northwest Territories	--	Permitted under Rules.

29.	Procedures for questioning witnesses be adopted that permit productive lines of questioning to be taken to their conclusion and allow all members an opportunity to participate. (p.48)

Explanatory Notes

Alberta	--	Committee passed a motion at organizational meeting to permit each member one question and two supplementaries.
Northwest Territories	--	If at all possible.

30.	Public accounts committees concentrate their attention on significant issued of management and financial administration rather than on isolated, unimportant, individual transactions. (p.48)

Explanatory Notes

Northwest Territories

If at all possible.