Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 22, 2001
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 9:00 a.m., for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Fairbairn, P.C., Gill, Gustafson, LeBreton, Milne, Oliver, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk and Wiebe (11).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: June Dewetering and Frédéric Forge.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to Rule 88, the clerk presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, -- That The Honourable Senator Gustafson be Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Gustafson assumed the Chair and made opening remarks.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Wiebe be Deputy Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne 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; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Wiebe moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Fairbairn be the third member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
The question being put on motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Chalifoux moved, -- That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Taylor 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Oliver 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn moved, -- That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee; 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved, -- That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Gill 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 motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne 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 motion, it was agreed.
A discussion of issues related to the mandate of the committee followed.
At 9:35 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 15, 2001
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met in camera this day at 9:07 a.m. in Room 705, Victoria Building.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Fairbairn, P.C., Tkachuk, Tunney and Wiebe (4).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: June Dewetering.
The clerk informed the committee of the unavoidable absence of the Chair.
Pursuant to Rule 11, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the acting Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn -- That the Honourable Senator Wiebe be acting Chair of the Committee for this meeting.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The acting Chair welcomed Senator Tunney to the committee.
It was agreed that the committee adopt the draft order of reference on agriculture.
It was agreed that the committee adopt the draft order of reference on forestry.
Discussion followed on future business. Staff were directed to invite the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Secretary of State for Rural Development and Fednor to appear before the committee.
The Clerk was directed to prepare a budget for the next meeting.
At 9:50 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk of the Committee