November 13, 2007 -- In today's meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, David Sweet, MP (Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale) was elected First Vice-Chair of the committee.

"I am honoured to serve the people of Canada in my role as First Vice-Chair," said David Sweet. "I will continue to push for accountability in government and in the spending of our citizens' tax dollars.

David Sweet, MP has served on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts since being elected in 2006.

ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE

Mandate:

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3) of the House of Commons, the mandate of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is to review and report on:

• the Public Accounts of Canada;
• all reports of the Auditor General of Canada;
• the Office of the Auditor General's Reports on Plans and Priorities and Annual Performance Reports; and
• any other matter that the House of Commons shall, from time to time, refer to the Committee.

When the Auditor General tables a report in the House of Commons, it is automatically referred to the Public Accounts Committee, Parliament's standing audit committee.  The Committee then selects the portions of the report it wants to scrutinize and calls public servants from audited organizations to appear before it to explain the Auditor General's findings.  The Public Accounts Committee also reviews the federal government's consolidated financial statements - the Public Accounts of Canada - and attempts to identify financial shortcomings of the government in light of issues raised in the Auditor General's report.  The Committee then makes recommendations to the government for improvements in spending practices.