Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 21, 2001
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met at 5:06 p.m., this day, in Room 356-S, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Bolduc, Cools, Doody, Ferretti Barth, Finnerty, Kinsella, Mahovlich, Murray, P.C. and Stratton (10).
In attendance: Mr. Guy Beaumier, Research Officer, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to Rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chairman.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Banks, that the Honourable Senator Murray be Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kinsella, that the Honourable Senator Finnerty be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc, that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, 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 recommendations to the committee with respect to its agenda, inviting witnesses, and scheduling hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Finnerty, that the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Banks, that, pursuant to Rule 89, the Chairman be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition is present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Banks, that, pursuant to Rule 104, the Chairman 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 Mahovlich, that the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
That the Chairman 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 Procedures be authorized to retain services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the Chairman, 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 moved by the Honourable Senator Cools, 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 the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth, 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
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Doody, that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purpose 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 Bolduc, 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 Chairman 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 Stratton, that the Chairman 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 Chair informed the members that the committee's regular meeting times are Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday afternoons at 5:45 p.m., and that meetings will be held in room 705 of the Victoria Building.
The committee continued the meeting in camera.
Bill S-6, Public Service Whistleblowing Act
After discussion, it was agreed that the committee hear the Honourable Senator Kinsella on Bill S-6 on Tuesday February 27, 2001. After hearing the Honourable Senator Kinsella, the committee will decide when to proceed with clause by clause study of the Bill.
It was furthermore agreed that the Chairman of the Committee present a motion to the Senate to request that papers and evidence received and taken on Bill S-13 during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament be referred to the committee for its study of Bill S-6.
Estimates
The Chairman informed the committee that the Government will table its Supplementary Estimates for 2000-2001 and its Main Estimates for 2001-2002 at the end of February and the Committee might begin its consideration of these Estimates on March 13, 2001.
Other business
It was agreed that the committee would hear the Auditor General of Canada.
It was also agreed that the committee hold a meeting on its Report from last session of Parliament on Canada's Emergency and Disaster Preparedness in light of the Government's creation of an Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness.
At 5:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 27, 2001
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met at 9:32 a.m., this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Lowell Murray, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Comeau, Cools, Doody, Ferretti Barth, Finnerty, Kinsella, LeBreton, Mahovlich, Murray, P.C., (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Finestone, P.C., (1).
In attendance: Mr. Guy Beaumier, Research Officer, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Noël A. Kinsella, Sponsor of the bill;
The Honourable Senator Sheila Finestone.
From the Conservative Caucus:
Mr. Bruce Carson, Policy Adviser.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on January 31, 2001, the committee began its examination of the Bill S-6, An Act to assist in the prevention of wrongdoing in the Public Service by establishing a framework for education on ethical practices in the workplace, for dealing with allegations of wrongdoing and for protecting whistleblowers.
The Honourable Senator Kinsella, with the Honourable Senator Finestone, made a presentation and answered questions.
It was agreed to permit Mr. Bruce Carson, policy adviser to the Conservative Caucus, to answer a question.
It was agreed that the committee meet again on Bill S-6 on Wednesday February 28, 2001 with Mr. Mark Audcent, the Law Clerk of the Senate as a witness.
At 10:30 a.m., the committee continued its sitting in camera.
The committee undertook discussion of its future business.
Appearance by the Auditor General
The Chairman informed the Committee that the Auditor General has agreed to appear before the committee on March 28, 2001.
Government Estimates
It was agreed to examine both Supplementary Estimates and Main Estimates on March 13, 2001 if the Senate is not sitting during the week of March 12, 2001.
At 10:40 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Tõnu Onu
Clerk of the Committee