HANSARD

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Ms. Maureen MacDonald (Chair)

Mr.Chuck Porter (Vice-Chairman)

Mr. Patrick Dunn

Mr. Keith Bain

Mr. Graham Steele

Mr. David Wilson (Sackville-Cobequid)

Mr. Keith Colwell

Mr. Leo Glavine

Ms. Diana Whalen

In Attendance:

Ms. Charlene Rice

Legislative Committee Clerk

Mr. Gordon Hebb

Chief Legislative Counsel

HALIFAX, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008

STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

10:30 A.M.

CHAIR

Ms. Maureen MacDonald

VICE-CHAIRMAN

Mr. Chuck Porter

[The in camera portion of the meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.]

MADAM CHAIR: The last point I want to speak to here, there had been a point of order - it's too bad Mr. Porter isn't here today. He had raised a point of order with respect to the powers or the authority of the subcommittee to review documents and to release - not necessarily to review the documents but to release the documents. I had asked Mr. Hebb to provide me, as the Chair, with some legal advice with respect to the powers of the subcommittee, which we received and I've circulated to all of the members of this committee. Having had a chance to look at Mr. Hebb's opinion and speak with Mr. Hebb, I will uphold the point of order that was raised.

The process that we will use with respect to the release of documents will be that the subcommittee will, at the request of the Public Accounts Committee, review documents, will report back to the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Accounts Committee will make the ultimate decision about the release of documents and approve the criteria that will guide the subcommittee in their deliberations. I think that is pretty much the direction that we were advised would be the appropriate direction from Legislative Counsel, am I correct in that? I think I am correct in that. So that is the decision of the Chair.

At this point we stand adjourned until the next meeting.

[The committee adjourned at 10:32 a.m.]