Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Fisheries

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 24, 1999
(1)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries met this day at 5:50 p.m. in Room 505, Victoria Building, for its organization meeting.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Furey, Mahovlich, Robichaud, P.C. and Watt (6).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of a chairman.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, -- That the Honourable Senator Comeau be Chair of this committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt, -- That the Honourable Senator Robichaud be Deputy Chair of this committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cook, -- 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, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich -- That the committee print 215 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 adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Furey, -- That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and a representative from the opposition are present.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Furey, -- That, pursuant to rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt, -- That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it; That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed -- That the Chair would request that Claude Emery be assigned to the committee.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich, -- 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 committee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cook, -- That the committee empower the steering committee to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to: 1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and 2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt, -- That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Robichaud, -- That the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was also agreed -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would discuss the timing for regular meetings.

It was moved by Senator Robichaud -- That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries be authorized to examine and report upon the Report on Plans and Priorities of Fisheries and Oceans for the 1999-2000 Estimates (tabled in the Senate on March 25, 1999); the Performance Report of Fisheries and Oceans for the period ending March 31, 1999 (tabled in the Senate on November 2, 1999) and other matters relating to the fishing industry; That the committee report no later than December 12, 2000; and That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Chamber.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The committee discussed several possible subjects for future studies including the Marshall decision, West Coast fisheries and aquaculture. Committee members were invited to submit their suggestions to the Chair.

It was agreed -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure would discuss these proposals and report to the full committee.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cook, -- That the committee adjourned.

At 6:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Barbara Reynolds

Clerk of the Committee