Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
(Formerly Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders)
Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 21, 2001
(25)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 12:13 p.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Austin, P.C., Bryden, Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Pitfield, P.C., Poulin and Stratton (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Hubley (1).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 1:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
(26)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 9:37 a.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Poulin, Robertson and Stratton (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Prud'homme, P.C., and Kenny (2).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 11:20 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 28, 2001
(27)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 12:10 p.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Beaudoin, Corbin, Day, Di Nino, Fraser, Gauthier, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Pitfield, P.C., Poulin, Robertson and Stratton (14).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Hubley and Murray, P.C. (2).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 1:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 4, 2002
(28)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 9:35 a.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Austin, P.C., Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Pitfield, P.C., Robertson and Stratton (10).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 11:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 5, 2001
(29)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 12:10 p.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Banks, Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Nolin, Pitfield, P.C., Robertson and Stratton (13).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Prud'homme, P.C. and Corbin (2).
At 1:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 11, 2001
(30)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 9:46 a.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Bryden, Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Pitfield, P.C., Poulin, Robertson and Stratton (13).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 10:57 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 12, 2001
(31)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met in camera at 12:15 p.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Bryden, Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Poulin and Stratton (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Corbin (1).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
At 1:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 6, 2002
(32)
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) met at 12:16 p.m. this day, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Austin, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Cools, Di Nino, Gauthier, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Kroft, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, Murray, P.C., Pitfield, P.C., Poulin, Robertson and Stratton (15).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kinsella (1).
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee resumed its consideration of Bill S-34, An Act respecting royal assent to bills passed by the Houses of Parliament.
The committee proceeded to the consideration of observations on the Bill.
After debate,
It was agreed that the following observations be added to the report:
In connection with Bill S-34, your committee wishes to make the following observations:
1. Your Committee believes that it is essential that measures be taken to enhance the public visibility and the constitutional and symbolic significance of Royal Assent.
2. Your Committee is of the opinion that the presence of both the Governor General and the Prime Minister for Royal Assent on those occasions where a customary ceremony is held in the Senate Chamber are elements in demonstrating to the Canadian public the paramount purpose of Parliament in its law-making functions and the public expression of the Constitution of Canada wherein the participation of the Queen and the two houses of Parliament are conditions precedent to the making of laws of Canada.
3. Your Committee believes that Members of the Senate should recognize the importance of their presence in enhancing the Crown in Parliament, as well as their role as representatives of Canadians in the legislative process. With respect to customary Royal Assent ceremonies and ceremonies for the written declaration of Royal Assent, the whips of the parties in the Senate should be encouraged to invite the following persons to attend: the sponsor of the bill and opposition critic, the chair and deputy chair of the committee to which the bill was referred, the movers of any amendments proposed to the bill, any other Senators directly involved in the passage of the legislation, and the Minister or Ministers responsible for the bill. The Senate should encourage the House of Commons to extend a similar invitation to those of its members involved in the passage of the bill.
4. In those rare circumstances where the Governor General is unavoidably unable to attend Royal Assent personally, in the view of the Senate, and in light of the separation of powers between the Legislative and the Judicial Order, it would be desirable if Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada were not to be asked to act as Deputies to the Governor General for the granting of Royal Assent, but that the Governor General consider the appointment of companions of the Order of Canada to serve as Deputies for such purposes, provided that no member of the Senate or House of Commons, or of the cabinet, should be so authorized.
5. To further enhance the Royal Assent ceremony, your Committee believes that the customary ceremony of Royal Assent in the Senate Chamber should be televised and made available to be broadcast on television and on the Internet.
6. Your Committee believes that the customary Royal Assent ceremony should be held at a time which is more convenient for most Parliamentarians, and when attendance would be greater. Insofar as possible, provision should be made to give as much advance notice as possible of customary Royal Assent ceremonies and to ensure that no other parliamentary activities are scheduled at the same time.
7. In connection with the written declaration of Royal Assent, your Committee considers it desirable, depending on the nature of the legislation and the impact on regions of Canada, that consideration be given to the holding of such ceremonies outside Ottawa.
8. In order to enhance the educational value of customary Royal Assent ceremonies, efforts should be made, in collaboration with groups or organizations for young people and schools, to invite students and others to attend Royal Assent ceremonies.
9. Since the granting of Royal Assent is designed, in part, to give the public notice of a new law passed by Parliament, initiatives are essential to enhance public knowledge of the significance and substance of the bills being assented to by developing public education and communications strategies in order to educate the public. The Senate should ensure that the broadcast production of Royal Assent ceremonies include appropriate educational and informational segments about the bills being assented to.
The committee proceeded to the consideration of proposed amendments to the bill.
At 1:27 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gary O'Brien
Clerk of the Committee