Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Internal Economy,
Budgets and Administration
Issue 1 - Evidence
Ottawa, Wednesday, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 5:00 p.m., to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Mr. Paul Bélisle, Clerk of the Senate: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. Your first item today is to elect a chairman.
Senator Nolin: I nominate Senator Kenny.
Mr. Bélisle: Are there any other nominations?
Senator Petten: I move that nominations cease.
Mr. Bélisle: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Nolin that Senator Kenny be the chairman. Is it agreed, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Colin Kenny (Chairman) in the Chair.
The Chairman: I will spare everyone my speech. We can move to the second item, which is the election of a deputy chairperson.
Senator Stollery: I nominate Senator Di Nino.
Senator Petten: I move that nominations cease.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. The next item we have is to establish a Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. Go ahead, if you would care to, Senator Stollery. It is item number 4.
Senator Stollery: I move that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chairman, the deputy chairman, and Senators Gauthier, Nolin, and Petten.
The Chairman: We have a seconder from Senator Wood. Is it your pleasure to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item number 5 merits some explanation. I have reason to believe that, while we have adjourned until March 11, the adjournment is likely to go longer. In fact, it is likely to go to March 19. Therefore, I would ask that a senator move item number 5. In essence, that would give the power of the full committee to the steering committee to act until we come back as a full committee and until the Senate starts operating again on a normal basis.
I should go on to say that we discussed at our last meeting, with much of the same membership present, although there are some new faces here, the possibility, at the first occasion when the Senate started to meet on a regular basis again, of having the committee spend some time with the Clerk, Mr. Bélisle, discussing what senators had as their priorities for the Senate, how the committee wanted to structure itself and how we wanted to share the work-load amongst ourselves. What I proposed was that we have perhaps a two- or a three-stage process where, first, we all just speak our minds, with Mr. Bélisle here to record our views. Then we would ask Mr. Bélisle to come back with a paper outlining what he thought he heard, and we would review that paper and see if it coincides with the views of committee members in terms of our priorities, how we wanted to share the work, what parts of the Senate staff or infrastructure we wanted to review and how we wanted to spend our time over the remaining months until the summer break and beyond.
It seems to me that the most productive way we can work as a group is if we first figure out our priorities. That is what I would suggest we do when the Senate starts up in the next session. I would welcome any discussion on that point now, if you would like. We have this motion that delegates the power of the committee to the steering committee until we resume.
Senator Di Nino: Mr. Chairman, we have done this once or twice before. I think it would be appropriate to give the authority to the subcommittee for the whole session, in effect, so that during those times in the session when the Senate is not sitting for prolonged periods, such as over the summer months or over the Christmas break, that authority is available to the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, rather than having to do this every time.
The Chairman: I am in your hands. If that is the wish of the committee, that would be fine.
Senator Di Nino: I would like to make two other quick comments before we adjourn. We should include in our comments that a report will be made to the full committee at the next meeting of the full committee. I suggest that the mover of that motion not be a member of the subcommittee.
The Chairman: If honourable senators are uncomfortable with that proposal, then I suggest that it be for this break. However, if honourable senators are generally comfortable with it, then we could pass the motion on an ongoing basis. I have no difficulty with it either way. It is whatever suits the committee. The question is does everyone want to be called in for a meeting every week.
Senator Stollery: Mr. Chairman, I think Senator Di Nino's point is sensible. Obviously, we will to have a subcommittee that meets when the full committee cannot. Why should we go through this every time there is a summer adjournment or any kind of problem? I do not see any reason why we should not make it for the session.
The Chairman: Is that the consensus of honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Nolin: I have a problem with the French text.
The Chairman: Could you correct it for us, please?
[Translation]
Senator Nolin: I would have some comments to make. First of all, there is no reference in the English version to the details that those senators are concerned with.
Secondly, I would like some clarification on the translation of «décision immédiate, problèmes administratifs», «immédiate» and «mineurs» versus «urgente». The word «mineurs» used in the French version would mean «urgente» in my opinion. Finally, there should not be any reference to details that are bothering the senators.
Anyway, there is no mention of this in the English version.
[English]
Mr. Bélisle: That is the English.
Senator Nolin: In the English version there are no references to the details that bother senators. We have that reference in French.
Senator Poulin: Does that mean that while we are in session we will have meetings of the full committee on a regular basis?
The Chairman: It is my intention to ask to have meetings every Thursday morning on a regular basis.
Could I have such a motion?
Senator Cochrane: I so move.
The Chairman: Senator Cochrane so moves. Therefore, that is in order.
There are a variety of issues coming up on which we will be receiving briefings. The steering committee will endeavour to meet this Tuesday, if that is convenient to members. If not, we will arrive at another time.
We will also advise other members that the meeting is taking place. You are all welcome to come, if you are in town.
Senator Poulin: If one of the members of the steering committee is not available, can he or she be replaced by another member of the committee?
The Chairman: Mr. Bélisle has suggested that we could arrange for a substitute by checking with the chairman and the deputy chairman.
Senator Di Nino: That is a good idea.
Mr. Bélisle: In the absence of a member of the steering committee, the chair and the deputy chair may be authorized to appoint a substitute.
The Chairman: Among the things we will be talking about are some of the physical changes going on in the Senate which we were working on prior to the break. If you are around, that is terrific. If you are not, you will hear about it at the first meeting of the full committee. We will bring everyone up to speed on what is happening.
For example, everything next door is being shut down because of the committee room being built there. The work room that senators have here is being moved up into the office space beside the men's washroom.
We also have under construction some offices for senators in the Victoria Building. There will be a complete briefing on that matter.
Senator Di Nino: With respect to the meeting of the subcommittee, I understand that the budget is to be delivered on Wednesday.
The Chairman: Yes. Would that be a better day to meet?
Senator Di Nino: It would be for those of us who may not be here for the full week. I intend to be here on Wednesday.
The Chairman: Are there any other comments?
Senator Petten: Wednesday would suit me better.
The Chairman: We will let the Clerk consult on it. However, we will aim for Wednesday rather than Tuesday.
Is there anything else?
Senator Cochrane: As a new member of this committee, I should like to know if I could be given a tour, perhaps by the Clerk, of the renovations that are going on. I was not aware that they were ongoing.
Mr. Bélisle: Just call me, senator, and we will make an arrangement. I am sending a letter to all the new senators tomorrow.
Senator Prud'homme: If you happen to call a meeting of your committee while the Senate is not sitting, Mr. Chairman, perhaps you would call me. Of course, I know that it is the committee members who are called and not everyone. However, I would like to know.
The Chairman: Senator, as you know, I wrote to you when I first became chairman of the committee.
Senator Prud'homme: Yes, and I appreciate that. It was very courteous.
The Chairman: I undertook to have the Clerk advise you of the meetings, the agendas and the minutes of meetings. I presume you feel adequately covered in that regard.
Senator Prud'homme: Yes.
The Chairman: I wrote to all the independent senators, telling them that they are welcome at the meetings, as is any senator. Because you are not a member of the caucus I specifically made sure that you receive the agendas and the minutes. If that does not happen, I would like to know.
Senator Prud'homme: Good.
The committee adjourned.