Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A number of jurisdictions publish their public accounts before us, as noted in the committee report. I just want to comment that although I do think this should be changed in the legislation, it will take some years to get there. You have to work with the Office of the Auditor General, all of the departments, to make sure we can move our public accounts back. There are some departments, the power corp, the health authority who are notoriously late in getting their financial statements in. There is also a number of subsidiaries we own, you know, things like McPherson Tent and Canvas which then get their own individual audit and then get rolled up. So there's kind of this process that needs to occur before the public accounts that every single entity everywhere gets its audit complete and its financials done. So there is a big chain of information that flows up. But we think with a coordinated effort, we can stop seeing people be late in their accounting and eventually move this up to three months. So I encourage the department to amend the act and then probably give a little timeline for implementation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Finance take steps to publish in-year fiscal reports on a quarterly basis within a month and provide a timeline for implementation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Finance take steps to digitize the public accounts and provide a timeline for implementation and anticipated costs;

And further, the digitized presentation of financial results should align with the administrative, economic, functional, and program classifications used in the budget and main estimates documents. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

---Carried

All right, thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 36-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Public Accounts?

Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 36-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Public Accounts. Mahsi.

We will now consider Tabled Document 747-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if I could just confirm first, so we're doing infrastructure expenditures. I have it as 747-19(2)?

Okay, we're on the right one. Okay, good.

So, Mr. Chair, with respect to the Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), I am happy to present these here to the House. These estimates propose a total decrease of $59.8 million comprised of the following:

• • First, a net decrease of $108.9 million to adjust infrastructure project cash flows to realign the appropriations with the anticipated project schedules. These amounts are fully offset by appropriations in prior or future fiscal years.
  • Second, $48.1 million to provide funding for community government infrastructure projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan and Small Community Fund. Both these are fully offset by revenues from the federal government; and,
  • Finally, $1 million in support of the advancement of eligible projects under the COVID-19 resilience stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program supporting public building ventilation improvements to reduce the transmission of airborne illnesses. These projects are fully offset by revenues from the federal government.

That concludes opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I am happy to answer questions the committee may have.

Mahsi, Minister. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, please, Mr. Chair.