Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 18, 1999
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met this day at 11:05 a.m., in Room 257, East Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Beaudoin, Cools, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Milne, and Pearson (7).
In attendance: Nancy Holmes, Research Officer, Law and Government Division, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to Rule 88.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved that the Honourable Senator Milne be Chairman of this committee
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne took the Chair.
The Chairman introduced the new Clerk of the Committee and acknowledges the return of Nancy Holmes as the Library researcher. The Chairman suggested that a thank you letter be written to the previous Clerk, Dr. Lank and her assistant. The Chairman also thanked the Library of Parliament researchers who helped during the last session.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved that the Honourable Senator Beaudoin be Deputy Chairman of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and Senator Moore;
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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved that the committee 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 Beaudoin moved 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 agreed.
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved 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 agreed.
The Honourable Senator Pearson moved 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 agreed.
The Honourable Senator Beaudoin moved that, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred individually 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 on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Joyal moved that the following budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration subject to the granting by the Senate of authority to engage the services of personnel:
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
Professional and Special Services $ 18,100
Transportation and Communications 8,510
Other Expenditures 2,550
Total: $ 29,160
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved that the committee empower the Chair 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; 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk moved 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 agreed.
The Honourable Senator Beaudoin moved 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 agreed.
The Chairman informs the committee members of the time slot for the regular meetings.
At 11:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Michel Patrice
Clerk of the Committee