Proceedings of the Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

Formerly: The Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders

Issue 1 - Evidence

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day at 12:00 p.m. to organize the activities of the committee.

[English]

Dr. Gary O'Brien, Deputy Clerk and Principal Clerk, Legislative Services; Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. As the clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. Is there a nomination for chair?

Senator Poulin: I nominate as chair the Honourable Jack Austin. His experience and expertise will serve well this institution, all senators in the chamber, and all Canadians.

Mr. O'Brien: Are there other nominations? If not, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Poulin that the Honourable Senator Austin take the chair as chairman of this committee.

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Mr. O'Brien: I invite you to take the chair, Senator Austin.

Senator Jack Austin (Chairman) in the Chair.

The Chairman: Honourable senators, thank you very much for your confidence in me. As I said when I first became chair, this committee is very important to the reputation and effectiveness of the Senate. The way we run our internal business will in a significant way reflect the image of the Senate itself.

We also have an enormous challenge dealing with issues. It appears that this committee will be the subject of a great many issues. It certainly is a place to come and do work.

At this moment, it is my duty to ask for nominations with respect to the election of the deputy chair.

Senator Andreychuk: I nominate from our side Honourable Senator Terry Stratton on behalf of all members here.

The Chairman: Are there any other nominations? There being none, I declare Senator Stratton elected as deputy chairman.

It is my understanding that the nomination of a third member of the steering committee is at the discretion of the chair.

Mr. O'Brien: That is correct.

The Chairman: I would ask Senator Poulin then to act as the third member of the steering committee.

I ask for a motion that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, sometimes called the steering committee, be composed of three members and that a quorum be two members. May I have a motion to that effect?

Senator Andreychuk: I so move.

The Chairman: Thank you. The members are the chairman, the deputy chairman and Senator Poulin.

Is it agreed, honourable senators?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: We need a motion to print the committee's proceedings. It is suggested that 200 copies be printed for distribution to senators, MPs, officials and the public.

Senator Rossiter: I so move.

The Chairman: Any discussion? All in favour?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: Unanimously carried.

Concerning research staff, I will now entertain a motion that this committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign a research officer to this committee.

Senator DeWare: I so move.

The Chairman: Thank you. All in favour?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: Carried. I hope we have the same researcher that we have had in the past, our very good researcher, Jamie Roberston.

In the past resolution, I forgot to ask that the chairman, on behalf of the committee, may direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analysis and summaries. Is it agreed that that be part of the approved resolution?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: Carried.

On the financial report, I will now entertain a motion that, pursuant to rule 104, the chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session. May I have a motion to that effect?

The statement in front of us shows that we spent $5,895.55 in the last session, probably the lowest expenditure of any committee.

Senator Poulin: I so move.

The Chairman: Thank you. Is it agreed?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: Thank you. Carried. The next item is budget application.

Mr. O'Brien: We are well into the financial year, which ends March 31. I think perhaps a notional budget of, say, $2,000 would get us into the new fiscal year.

The Chairman: Is it agreed that we make a budget application to cover our expenses, including lunches, until the end of this fiscal year?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: Carried. We now turn to future business of the committee, and this will be done in camera.

The committee continued in camera.