Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 4:30 p.m., for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cohen, Cook, Cordy, Fairbairn, Johnson, Kirby, LeBreton, Pépin, and Robertson (10).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Keon (1).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Odette Madore and Howard Chodos.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn -- That the Honourable Senator Kirby be Chairman of this Committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Senator Kirby was invited by the Clerk of the Committee to take the Chair.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cohen -- That the Honourable Senator LeBreton be Deputy Chair of this Committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cook -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Honourable Senator Cordy; and that the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure invite Senator Keon to consult on matters concerning health issues.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton -- That the committee print its Proceedings; and that the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator LeBreton -- That pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of evidence when a quorum is not present.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Fairbairn -- That pursuant to rule 104, the Chair 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 Cohen -- That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; that the Chair 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 Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and that the Chair, 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 Callbeck -- 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 Fairbairn -- That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure 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 that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to determine whether any member of the Committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and 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 LeBreton -- 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 Chair 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 LeBreton -- That the Chair 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.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Robertson -- That the Chair be authorized to seek the following order of reference from the Senate:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report upon the state of the health care system in Canada. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to examine:

The fundamental principles on which Canada's publicly funded health care system is based;

The historical development of Canada's health care system;

Health care systems in foreign jurisdictions;

The pressures on and constraints of Canada's health care system; and

The role of the federal government in Canada's health care system;

That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament be referred to the Committee;

That the Committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2002; and

That the Committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit any report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting; and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Chamber.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Pépin -- That the Chair be authorized to seek the following order of reference from the Senate:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report upon the developments since Royal Assent was given during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament to Bill C-6, to support and promote electronic commerce by protecting personal information that is collected, used or disclosed in certain circumstances, by providing for the use of electronic means to communicate or record information or transactions and by amending the Canada Evidence Act, the Statutory Instruments Act and the Statute Revision Act; and

That the committee table its final report no later than June 30, 2001.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The committee discussed future business.

At 4:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Catherine Piccinin

Clerk of the Committee