Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Internal Economy,
Budgets and Administration
Issue 10 - Twenty-first, Twenty-second and Twenty-third Reports of the Committee
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 1998
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWENTY FIRST REPORT
Your committee has examined and approved the supplementary budget presented to it by the Standing Committees on Aboriginal Peoples for the proposed expenditures of the said committees for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 for its special study on the Royal Commission Report on Aboriginal People.
| Professional and Other Services
|
$ 367,900
|
| Transportation and Communication
|
137,500
|
| All Other Expenditures
|
6,500
|
| TOTAL
|
$ 511,900
|
Respectfully submitted,
THURSDAY, June 18, 1998
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWENTY-SECOND REPORT
The Constitution Act 1867, subsection 23(5), states that a Senator "shall be resident in the Province for which he is appointed". This means that Senators whose primary residence is more than 100 kilometers from Parliament Hill incur additional living expenses for which they should be reimbursed when they are in the National Capital Region.
Members of the House of Commons are entitled to claim a maximum allowance of up to $6,000 to cover living expenses incurred when they are away from their primary residence. The Blais Commission recently recommended that this amount be increased up to a maximum of $12,000 per year.
In addition, the Blais Commission recognized that Senators also incur living expenses when they are in the National Capital Region and recommended that they too be eligible for reimbursement. Your committee notes that the Senate has the legal authority, pursuant to subsection 63(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, to provide for the reimbursement of expenses of this nature incurred by Senators.
Your committee therefore recommends that:
(i) a policy be established to reimburse eligible senators for actual living expenses incurred in the National Capital Region; and
(ii) your committee be empowered to establish the terms and conditions of this policy and adjust it periodically.
Your committee notes that amounts reimbursed to senators for living expenses in the National Capital Region will be disclosed in the Public Accounts of Canada.
Respectfully submitted,
THURSDAY, June 18, 1998
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWENTY-THIRD REPORT
The 1998-99 Senate Estimates, adopted by the Senate on February 26, 1998, included an amount of $500,000 to fund additional research for the party caucuses, subject to further discussion. Such funds which are provided to recognized parties in the other place are necessary to better assist senators in the performance of their parliamentary duties.
Your committee now recommends that effective April 1, 1998 the amount of $500,000 be allocated in fiscal year 1998-99, as follows: (i) independent senators, up to $5,000 each; and (ii) the remaining monies to be shared equally between the Government caucus and the Official Opposition. These funds are to be used for research assistance and related equipment needed to perform this function.
Contracting for human resources will be fashioned after the model for Senators' global budgets. Individuals will fall within one of the following three categories: (i) short-term contracts for a specific project; (ii) term contract for less than six months; and (iii) term contract for more than six months. Contracts will be renewable every April 1.
Office space, supplies and telephone lines will be provided by Senate administration. Other services such as messenger, postal and printing services will be extended to research centers.
Expenses will be incurred by Senate administration upon receipt of signed documentation. The Leader of each party will delegate signing authority to two senators from that party. Each independent senator will exercise signing authority up to the maximum amount allocated.
This policy will be reviewed by your Committee before the next fiscal year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chairman