Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
(Formerly Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders)

Issue 17 - Thirteenth Report of the Committee

Thursday, May 2, 2002

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled the Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) has the honour to present its

THIRTEENTH REPORT

1. Pursuant to the order of reference dated December 4, 2001, as extended by motion on March 26, 2002, your committee has considered the issue of time allotted to tributes in the Senate.

2. The issue of time spent on tributes has been a source of concern for a number of Senators for some time. On November 8, 2001, Senator Jean Lapointe gave notice that he would call attention to the issue, and the matter was discussed in the Senate on November 8, November 20, and November 21, 2001. Senator Lapointe subsequently moved the motion of December 4, 2001 that your committee examine and report on this issue. Among the Senators who spoke on this issue in the Senate, there was unanimous support for the proposal that the time spent on tributes should be limited.

3. Your committee considered this issue at its meeting on April 17, 2002. The appropriateness of tributes upon the retirement, resignation or death of Senators and former Senators is not in dispute. There is, however, widespread concern over the amount of time that can be devoted to individual tributes. Not only does this detract from the regular public business of the Chamber, but tributes can also take on a life of their own with many Senators feeling that they have to make a contribution. Comparisons have inevitably been made between the time and number of Senators paying tribute in individual cases.

4. After canvassing various issues and proposed solutions — including the placement of tributes on the Order Paper, the setting aside of special times of the week, the filing of written tributes for inclusion in Hansard, et cetera — your committee has concluded that the time allocated to tributes should be strictly limited to 15 minutes. The decision as to when to schedule tributes will remain with the Senate leadership. The tributes will generally occur near the beginning of the sitting. It is likely the Leader of the Government and the Leader of the Opposition, or their designates, will speak first. Your committee does not believe that individual speeches should last more than three minutes. On those occasions when a large number of Senators wish to speak, it may be necessary to reduce the time allotted to individual speakers. Your committee strongly believes that 15 minutes ought to be a maximum, and that no leave to extend the time should be sought, or granted.

5. Your committee notes that Senators have various other opportunities in which to pay tribute to former colleagues. These include: Senators' Statements, motions, and notices of inquiries. There are, of course, other avenues in addition to the Senate Chamber for conveying congratulations, best wishes or condolences.

Therefore, your committee recommends that Rule 22 of the Rules of the Senate be amended by adding after subsection (9) the following:

``Tributes

(10) At the request of the Government Leader in the Senate or the Leader of the Opposition, the time provided for the consideration of ``Senators' Statements'' shall be extended by no more than fifteen minutes on any one day for the purpose of paying tribute to a Senator or to a former Senator, and by such further time as may be taken for the response under subsection (13).

Time limits

(11) The Speaker shall advise the Senate of the amount of time to be allowed for each intervention by Senators paying tribute, which shall not exceed three minutes; a Senator may speak only once.

No leave

(12) Where a Senator seeks leave to speak after the fifteen minutes allocated for Tributes has expired, the Speaker shall not put the question.

Response

(13) After all tributes have been completed, the Senator to whom tribute is being paid may respond.

Senate Publications

(14) The tributes and response given under subsections (10) to (13) shall appear under the separate heading ``Tributes'' in the Journals of the Senate and the Debates of the Senate.

No bar

(15) Nothing in this rule prevents a Senator from paying tribute to another Senator or to a former Senator at any other time allowed under these rules.

Other tributes

(16) Nothing in this rule prevents an allocation of time for tributes to persons who are not Senators or former Senators.''.

Respectfully submitted,

JACK AUSTIN

Chair