Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 22, 2001
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources met at 9:15 a.m. this day, in Room 172-E, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Kenny, Sibbeston, Spivak, Taylor and Watt (10).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament; Lynne Myers, Research Officer.
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 Spivak moved -- That the Honourable Senator Taylor do take the Chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Taylor took the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Finnerty moved -- That the Honourable Senator Spivak be Deputy Chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and Senator Kenny; and -- That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Christensen moved -- That the committee print its Proceedings; and -- That the Chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved -- That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and to authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee of the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Christensen 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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Watt moved -- That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; and -- 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, subjet-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved -- 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.
The Honourable Senator Finnerty moved -- That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred 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 on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Christensen 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C. 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane 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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved -- That the committee authorize the Chair to seek a general mandate from the Senate to complete its study on nuclear energy and to examine issues related to energy, the environment and natural resources.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair informed the committee members of the time slot for the regular meetings.
At 9:30 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera to consider future business.
It was agreed -- That senators' staff remains in the room.
At 9:55 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 27, 2001
(2)
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources met in camera, at 5:00 p.m. this day, in Room 257, East Block.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Kelleher, P.C., Kenny, Spivak, Taylor and Watt (9).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Lynne Myers, Research Officer.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved -- That the Chair be authorized to submit an emergency funds application pursuant to Guideline 3:03 for the amount of $10,000 for its legislative activities for fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved -- That the Chair be authorized to submit an emergency funds application pursuant to Guideline 3:03 for the amount of $10,000 for its special study subject to the granting by the Senate of the order of reference for fiscal year ending March 31, 2001.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Finnerty moved -- That the committee be supportive of getting Bill S-15, to enable and assist the Canadian tobacco industry in attaining its objective of preventing the use of Tobacco products by young persons in Canada, referred to this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved -- That the committee seek authority from the Senate to adjourn from place to place within Canada for its special study related to energy in order to hold public hearings; and -- That it set time aside during those hearings to hear witnesses on Bill S-15 who did not have the opportunity to appear on Bill S-20, should the Senate refers Bill S-15 to this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved -- That the proposed budget application be approved, subject to adding a fact-finding mission to Paris and Vienna composed of six senators and two staff; and -- That it be submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, subject to the granting by the Senate of the order of reference for its special study:
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:15 p.m., it was agreed -- That the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 22, 2001
(3)
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources met at 9:30 a.m. this day, in Room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Nicholas W. Taylor, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Finnerty, Kelleher, P.C., Kenny, Spivak, Taylor and Watt (9).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament, Lynne Myers, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on March 1, 2001, the committee proceeded to examine issues as may arise from time to time relating to energy, the environment and natural resources, including the continuation and completion of the study on Nuclear Reactor Safety (Water Policy). (See Issue No.1, Thursday, February 22, Tuesday, February 27 and Thursday, March 22, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference).
WITNESSES:
From Environment Canada:
Jennifer Moore, Director General, Ecosystems and Environmental Resources Directorate, Environmental Conservation Service;
John Cooper, Director, National Water Issues, Ecosystems and Environmental Resources Directorate, Environmental Conservation Service;
Mike Wong, Director, Environmental Quality Branch;
Cynthia Wright, Director General, Strategic Priorities Directorate, Environmental Protection Service.
The witnesses made a presentation and answered questions.
The witnesses from Environment Canada submitted documentation on the subject matter.
At 10:50 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
It was agreed -- That the following budget application for legislation be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Special Services | $ 24,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | 5,500 |
| Other Expenditures | 1,000 |
| Total | $ 31,000 |
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Special Services | $ 59,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | 359,040 |
| Other Expenditures | 6,750 |
| Total | $ 425,290 |
At 11:04 a.m., it was agreed -- That the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Michel Patrice
Clerk of the Committee