Karen Hogan and Jerry V. DeMarco made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

At 12:02 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:09 p.m., the meeting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $500, for the study of the 2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada and 2025 Reports 1 to 4 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, be adopted.

Tom Osborne moved, — That, when undertakings are given by witnesses at committee meetings to provide further answers to questions or follow up information, the witnesses be given three weeks to provide the committee with a written response, if a response is not received within the specified time that the committee invite the appropriate accounting officer to appear before the committee to explain why the information has not been provided in the time requested.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Gérard Deltell, Ned Kuruc, Stephanie Kusie — 3;

NAYS: Anthony Housefather, Sébastien Lemire, Tom Osborne, Kristina Tesser Derksen, Jean Yip — 5.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1)(a) and 108(3)(g), with regard to any request for information or response contained in any report of the committee, the department or agency tasked with providing the request for information or response be obliged to provide it by no later than the deadline contained in the same report.

It was agreed, — That the committee Chair and staff be authorized to:

• review government responses to recommendations made by the committee during the 42nd, 43rd and 44th Parliaments;
• acknowledge by letter, on the committee’s behalf, receipt of government responses where they respond clearly and completely to recommendations or request further information or clarification, as required;
• monitor the implementation of government commitments made in response to committee recommendations, and request further information as required; and,
• report to the committee on these activities in a timely fashion.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the Canadian Council of Public Accounts Committees and Canadian Council of Legislative Auditors Annual Conference, the proposed budget in the amount of $30,493, for the committee’s travel to Regina, Saskatchewan from September 6 to 10, 2025, be adopted.

Sébastien Lemire moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(g) of the House of Commons, the Committee recommend that the Auditor General of Canada conduct a performance audit of the federal Additions to Reserve (ATR) process, as administered by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), in order to assess:

1. the effectiveness and efficiency of ATR application processing;
2. the average processing times at each stage of the process as well as the causes of persistent delays;
3. the transparency, predictability and clarity of the assessment criteria applicable to First Nations;
4. the coordination among CIRNAC, Indigenous Services Canada, provinces, municipalities and affected First Nations;
5. compliance with the commitments outlined in the Policy on ATR and Designated Lands; and
6. the outcomes achieved in terms of self-determination, community development and equitable access to public services following the addition of land to a reserve;
   and that this audit contribute to the responsible, transparent and effective management of public funds consistent with the Government of Canada’s commitments to First Nations and in support of the reconciliation process.

Debate arose thereon.