Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Internal Economy,
Budgets and Administration
Issue 2 - Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Reports of the Committee
THURSDAY, October 30, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your committee recommends the adoption of a Supplementary Estimate of $4,151,000 for fiscal year 1997-98.
This Supplementary Estimate is requested in order to meet operational shortfalls in committees and in Protective Services, and one-time expenditures for furniture and equipment.
A number of special studies undertaken by Senate Committees will be funded by this Supplementary Estimate. These studies, which were unanticipated at the time the Main Estimates were prepared, include the present state of financial system in Canada, the serious state of post-secondary education, a study on the Cape Breton Development Corporation, the importance of the Asia Pacific Regions, Transportation Safety and Security.
The operational shortfall is due mainly to additional expenses incurred when, pursuant to an agreement with the House of Commons, the Senate's Protective Services accepted responsibility for the overall security and fire prevention of the East Block. This initiative, which is in its second year of implementation, will result in net savings of $80,000 per year after an initial pay-back period of three years, which is significantly less than the time Treasury Board uses as a guide.
Funds are requested for furniture and equipment for newly renovated parliamentary committee rooms which form part of the Renovation Plan for Parliament Hill.
Additional funds are required for the Senate's share of Parliamentary Associations, administered by both Houses of Parliament.
The Supplementary Estimate also covers the purchase of informatics equipment and computer software in order to ensure continued compatibility between the Senate's computer network communications and the House of Commons and Library of Parliament.
Respectfully submitted,
THURSDAY, October 30, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRD REPORT
Your committee has agreed that the following guidelines regarding witnesses' expenses be adopted:
1. The budget for witnesses' expenses be set at the committees Directorate level. In their reports on sessional expenses pursuant to Rule 104, Committees will report how much was spent on witnesses' expenses although charged elsewhere in the Senate's administrative budget.
2. Witnesses have sixty (60) days from the date of their appearance to submit travel claims for payment. Failure to submit such claims within sixty days will result in non-payment. However, in exceptional circumstances, a Chair of a committee will be empowered to extend the deadline.
Respectfully submitted,
TUESDAY, November 18, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FOURTH REPORT
Your committee reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament are as follows:
Professional Services 0
Transportation & Communication 0
Other, Miscellaneous $ 428.00
TOTAL $ 428.00
Respectfully submitted,
THURSDAY, November 20, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FIFTH REPORT
Your committee has examined and approved the budgets presented to it by the following committees for the proposed expenditures of the said committees for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998:
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
97-10-30/014
Professional and Other Services $ 3 000
Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (Legislation):
97-11-20/029
Professional and Special Services $ 46,250
Transportation and Communication 6,700
All Other Expenditures 700
TOTAL $53,650
Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (Legislation):
97-11-20/036
Professional and Other Services $ 22,600
Transportation and Communication 144, 604
All Other Expenditures 4,500
TOTAL $171,704
Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Legislation):
97-11-20/032
Professional and Other Services $ 22,900
Transportation and Communication 6, 000
All Other Expenditures 2,500
TOTAL $ 31,400
Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources (Legislation):
97-11-20/034
Professional and Other Services $ 2,725
Transportation and Communication 10,844
All Other Expenditures 3,500
TOTAL $ 17,069
Special Joint Committee to amend Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning the Quebec School Question (Senate Share):
97-10-30/017
Professional and Other Services $ 5,550
Transportation and Communication 8,850
All Other Expenditures 878
TOTAL $ 15,278
Special Joint Committee to review Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada concerning Newfoundland school system (Senate Share):
97-11-20/033
Professional and Other Services $ 4,290.00
Witness Expenses 13,500.00
Video-Conferences 1,500.00
All Other Expenditures 2,377.50
TOTAL $21,677.50
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chair