Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the third report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts concerning chapter 3, the sponsorship program; chapter 4, advertising activities; and chapter 5, management of public opinion research of the November 2003 report of the Auditor General of Canada referred to the committee on February 10, 2004 and privilege, powers and immunities of the House of Commons.
The report is in response to the request by Mr. Justice Gomery, the commissioner for the commission of inquiry, who asked the House to consider whether transcripts of the hearings of the public accounts committee may be received in evidence if a witness makes a sworn statement before the commission of inquiry that is inconsistent with a statement previously made by that witness before the public accounts committee.