Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Internal Economy,
Budgets and Administration
Issue 2 - Reports of the Committee
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
The Guidelines for Senators' Research Expenditures were established as a pilot project in 1988 and, after eight years, the program has proven successful.
Your Committee believes that the program would be more effective if peer review were eliminated and the research and general office budgets combined, while retaining the flexibility of the two previous budgets.
Senators have commissions to discharge their duties and it is inappropriate to perpetuate the concept of having a Senator's research projects reviewed by his or her colleagues.
Your Committee therefore recommends that, effective April 1, 1996, Senators no longer be requested to submit applications for their research allowance. It also recommends that research and general office expenses be combined, and that the flexibility of the two previous budgets be retained.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chairman
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your Committee has agreed that the following guidelines regarding witness expenses be adopted:
1. Committees may apply for $10,000 in emergency funds when there are insufficient funds in a Committee's budget for the payment of witness expenses.
2. Committees may reimburse expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.
3. Any prepayment of witness expenses would be made from a Committee's budget.
4. The Chairs of Committees will have the discretion to decide if a resident of the National Capital Region will have his or her expenses reimbursed when appearing before a Committee in Ottawa.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chairman
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRD REPORT
Your Committee has agreed that authorization be given for the necessary costs of the former members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs to undertake their upcoming trip to Europe, if it takes place during this period of prorogation, under similar circumstances as the study on Corporate Governance.
Your Committee has also agreed that if the trip takes place after the opening of the new session and upon the re-establishment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs; (i) the budget from the previous session be re-instated; (ii) the budget be increased from $152,840 to $170,000, and (iii) an amount of $14,000 be transferred from Professional Services to Travel Expenses.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chairman
TUESDAY, March 19, 1996
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FOURTH REPORT
Your Committee recommends that Senators be reimbursed for taxi expenses incurred on public business while in Ottawa to a maximum of $25 per trip.
Your Committee also recommends that these expenses be charged to the Statutory Vote and that taxi expenses be reimbursed on a monthly basis upon the submission of receipts to the Senate Finance Directorate indicating the amount and destination.
Respectfully submitted,
CONSIGLIO DI NINO
Deputy Chair