Thank you, Madam Chairperson. This is just one department that we have to look at, but I think out of all the departments within this government, this is probably one of the most key areas in regard to the accountability of the expenses of this government who monitors the day-to-day expenses that go on in this government. I think it is crucial that we somehow have the ability to be able to come back to that particular question because as we go through the budget there are going to be questions raised in regard to the whole accountability question. This is the department that oversees that, so that is why I am asking the question to the Minister now. What kind of assurances have we as we go through this? What he may be telling us here, we may hear a different version of it from another Minister or another department so I think that I do not want to ask the questions just to get attention or to make the newspapers, but basically to ensure everybody here. There are other concerns we have in the other departments but it relates to the accountability of this department, also, to ensure that accountability carries on in a manner which basically we have had the comfort of dealing with this, dealing with the deficit to ensure the expenditures of the different departments did not get out of hand. We want to ensure that continues.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Financial Management Board Secretariat, operations and maintenance, total operations and maintenance, $42,460,000.

Agreed. Total expenditures, $42,460,000.

Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Ootes.

Madam Chairperson, I would like to make a motion in regard to the Financial Management Board. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the program summary, Financial Management Board Secretariat, at this time.

Out of order and unfortunately, the line items that were called were already agreed to prior to the Member being recognized. The motion is out of order, sorry. Does the committee agree that the Financial Management Board Secretariat is concluded?

Agreed. Thank you. Mr. Ootes.

Madam Chairperson, could we do a count. I do not believe you had enough Members present to agree to it.

Thank you. The Clerk informs me that it is based on the voice of what I hear when I ask agree and everybody said agreed. I only heard one person saying no. Mr. Morin.

Point of Order

Thank you, Mr. Morin. To the point of order. Mr. Ootes, would you like to comment on whether or not you are in fact challenging the fact that the Chair recognized the concurrence of the committee?

Madam Chairperson, I believe I brought to your attention that we did not have a quorum. That was my point. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ootes, we did have a quorum. Mr. Morin, Mr. Ootes was not challenging the Chair, so we do not have a point of order. Mr. Krutko.

Could I have a motion to report progress?

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. It is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is defeated. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Steen.

Point of Order

Madam Chairperson, I think as a point of order here, could the Chair indicate where it would be proper for a type of motion that Mr. Ootes presented? Where it would be proper that type of motion be brought forward? I believe the Member was asking to the best of his ability with the understanding we were given. As a matter of fact, he had the assistance of the Chair to draw up the motion and of the Clerks. Therefore, maybe what is missing here is, where was the proper opportunity to present this motion?

Thank you. The total operations and maintenance, the total expenditures on the FMBS were already called and agreed to. The motion was out of order because it refers to deferring consideration of the program summary which was already agreed to. I believe we could still entertain a motion to defer concluding FMBS, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the Financial Management Board Secretariat at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. The motion is in order. We will have to take a five-minute break while the motion is translated.

--Break