Proceedings of the Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
Formerly: The Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders
Issue 2 - Orders of Reference
Extract from the Rules of the Senate of Canada:
Rule 86(1)(f):
The Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, composed of fifteen members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, which is empowered
i) on its own initiative to propose, from time to time, amendments to the rules for consideration by the Senate;
ii) upon a reference from the Senate, to examine and, if required, report on any question of privilege; and
iii) to consider the orders and customs of the Senate and privileges of Parliament.
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of February 20, 2001:
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Gauthier, seconded by the Honourable Senator Corbin:
That Rule 86(1) of the Rules of the Senate be amended:
1. by deleting paragraph (e);
2. by adding immediately after paragraph (q) the following new paragraph:
"The Senate Committee on Official Languages, composed of seven members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, to which may be referred, as the Senate may decide, bills, messages, petitions, inquiries, papers and other matters relating to official languages."; and
3. by relettering the paragraphs accordingly.
That, notwithstanding Rule 85(3), the Senate membership on the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages lapse; and
That a Message be sent to the House of Commons acquainting that House thereof.
After debate,
In amendment, the Honourable Senator Comeau moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Oliver, that the following be inserted after the word "That":
"the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament examine the following proposal:
That".
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The question then being put on the motion as amended, it was adopted.
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of March 15, 2001:
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Robichaud, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Kinsella:
That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders that it examine the structure of committees in the Senate, taking into consideration -- inter alia -- the following:
- available human resources
- the schedule of committees
- the mandate of each committee
- the total number of committees
- the number of Senators on each committee
And that the Committee report its findings to the Senate no later than Wednesday, October 31, 2001.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate