Once their study is concluded, the committee may present a report to the House with recommendations for improvement to government programs.
[2] Under the Westminster system, governments cannot spend money or raise taxes without the consent of Parliament.
In Canada, the Public Accounts Committee has existed since Confederation in 1867 and is the successor to previous bodies that had a similar function.
[5] Under Williamson, the Public Accounts Committee studied a wide range of issues, most notably the outsourcing on government contracts related to ArriveCAN,[6] the investigation into conflicts of interest at Sustainable Development Technology Canada,[7] and audits of the government's COVID-19 programs.
[8] On December 27, 2024, Williamson used his ability as chair to schedule a committee meeting on January 7, 2025, to discuss "a motion of non-confidence in the Liberal Government.