Proceedings of the Special Committee on
Bill C-20
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 18, 2000
(1)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Bill C-20 met this day in room 172-E, Centre Block, at 5:54 p.m., for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bolduc, Fraser, Gill, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kinsella, Kroft, Lynch-Staunton, Milne, Murray, P.C., Nolin and Poulin (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Joyal, P.C., and Prud'homme, P.C. (2).
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Kinsella moved -- That the Honourable Senator Fraser be Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Fraser took the Chair of the committee and made some opening remarks.
The Honourable Senator Gill moved -- That the Honourable Senator Kinsella be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation; That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda and procedure; That the subcommittee be empowered to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Kinsella moved, in amendment -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and three other members of the committee to be designated after the usual consulation; That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda and procedure; That the subcommittee be empowered to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was agreed.
The question being put on the motion, as amended, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved -- That the subcommittee print 300 copies of its proceedings and -- That the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Poulin moved -- That the subcommittee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the subcommittee, and; That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Chair introduced Mollie Dunsmuir, Brian O'Neal and Jay Sinha, from the Library of Parliament, to the committee.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved -- That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair or in the Chair's absence, the Deputy Chair; and That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the subcommittee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Poulin moved -- That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the subcommittee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings at its discretion.
After debate, the Honourable Senate Kinsella moved, in amendment -- That the committee allow coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was agreed.
The question being put on the motion, as amended, it was agreed.
The committee proceeded to the consideration of the committee's regular meeting times.
After debate, it was agreed to empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to decide the matter of regular time slots.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved -- That any consideration or votes on any motions dealing with the disposition in committee of Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession Reference, be held no earlier than at the completion of hearing of all witnesses.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The committee proceeded to the consideration the following draft budget:
| Professional and Other Services
|
$ 5,300
|
| All Other Expenditures
|
$ 2,500
|
| TOTAL
|
$ 7,800
|
At 6:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, May 29, 2000
(2)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Bill C-20 met this day in room 505, Victoria Building, at 1:35 p.m., the Honourable Joan Fraser, Chair, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bolduc, Boudreau, Chalifoux, De Bané, P.C., Fraser, Furey, Gill, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kinsella, Kroft, Lynch-Staunton, Milne, Murray, P.C., Nolin and Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie/Acadia) (16).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Christensen, Cools, Finestone, P.C., Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Pitfield, P.C., Prud'homme, P.C., Spivak and Taylor (11).
In attendance: Mollie Dunsmuir, Brian O'Neal and Jay Sinha, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate
APPEARING:
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
WITNESSES:
From the Department of Justice:
Mary E. Dawson, Q.C., Associate Deputy Minister, Constitutional Affairs.
From the Privy Council Office:
Mr. George Anderson, Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs;
Geoffroi Montpetit, Legislative Assistant to the President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted in the Senate on Thursday, May 18, 2000, the committee commenced its consideration of Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession reference.
The Chair made some opening remarks.
The Honourable Stéphane Dion made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, May 29, 2000
(3)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Bill C-20 met this day in room 505, Victoria Building, at 7:03 p.m., the Honourable Joan Fraser, Chair, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Bolduc, Chalifoux, De Bané, P.C., Fraser, Furey, Gill, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kinsella, Kroft, Lynch-Staunton, Milne, Murray, P.C., Nolin and Robichaud, P.C. (L'Acadie/Acadia)(15).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Christensen, Cools, Finestone, P.C., Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Prud'homme, P.C., Spivak and Taylor (10).
In attendance: Mollie Dunsmuir and Jay Sinha, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Patrick J. Monahan, Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School;
Patrice Garant, Professor, Law Faculty, Laval University.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted in the Senate on Thursday, May 18, 2000, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession reference.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Patrick J. Monahan made a statement and answered questions.
Patrice Garant made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Heather Lank
Clerk of the Committee