Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 24, 2002
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 11:00 a.m., in room 256-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Bolduc, Di Nino, Mahovlich, Phalen, Smith, P.C. and Stollery (8).
In attendance: From the Senate Committees Directorate: Till Heyde, Committee Clerk.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.
Election of Chair
Pursuant to Rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, — That the Honourable Senator Stollery be the Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The clerk invited the Honourable Senator Stollery to take the Chair.
Election of Deputy Chair
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, — That the Honourable Senator Di Nino be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
It was agreed that the following motion be deferred to a subsequent meeting.
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Honourable Senator ________; and
That the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
Motion to print the committee's proceedings
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Austin, — That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when quorum is not present
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, — That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Financial Report
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Smith, — 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Research Staff
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Phalen, — That the commmittee 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Authority to commit funds and certify accounts
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk, — That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair or in the Chair's absence on the Deputy Chair; and on 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 on the Chair or in the Chair's absence on the Deputy Chair; and on the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Travel
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc, — 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Designation of Members Travelling on Committee Business
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) 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
2) 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Travelling and living expenses of witnesses
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Austin, — 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Electronic media coverage of public meetings
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Di Nino, — 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Time slot for regular meetings
Tuesday when the Senate rises but not before 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday when the Senate rises but not before 3:30 p.m.
It was agreed that the clerk sends to all members of the committee a letter sent to the Honourable Senator Stollery and Mr. Bernard Patry, M.P., dated September 10, 2002, as well as the enclosed information material.
It was agreed that the committee meet on Wednesday, November 6, 2002 when the Senate rises but not before 3:30 p.m.
At 11:20 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday November 18, 2002
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day in camera at 6:04 p.m. in room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable Peter A. Stollery, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Austin, Di Nino, Losier-Cool, Setlakwe and Stollery (5).
Also present: From the Parliamentary Research Branch: Peter Berg and Michael Holden, Research Officers; and from the office of the Honourable Peter A. Stollery: David Murphy.
It was agreed — That the Chair request an Order of Reference from the Senate authorizing the committee to examine trade relations between Canada and the United States of America as well as trade relations between Canada and Mexico within the context of trade relations in the Americas and the Doha cycle.
It was agreed — That the draft report presented to the committee be adopted and submitted for approval to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (subject to the approval by the Senate of the Order of Reference).
At 6:51 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday November 27, 2002
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 3:38 p.m. in room 172-E of the Centre Block, the Chairman, the Honourable Peter A. Stollery, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bolduc, Day, De Bané, P.C., Grafstein, Graham, P.C., Losier-Cool and Stollery (7).
Also present: From the Parliamentary Research Branch: Peter Berg and Michael Holden, Research Officers; and from the office of the Honourable Peter A. Stollery: David Murphy.
In attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The Honourable Senator Graham moved — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Honourable Senator Corbin; and That the subcommittee be authorized to make decisions on behalf of the committee regarding programs, to invite witnesses and to draw up a timetable for meetings.
It was agreed — That motions pertaining to the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure adopted by the committee on October 24, 2002 (organization meeting) remain in effect.
And the question being put on the motion, it was adopted in the affirmative.
At 3:39 p.m., the committee continued in camera, pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), to consider a draft report.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday November 21, 2002, the committee proceeded to examine the Canada-United States of America trade relationship as well as the Canada-Mexico trade relationship.
Following debate, it was agreed — That the committee approve the proposed budget for its examination of the Canada-United States of America trade relationship and the Canada-Mexico trade relationship and that the Chair submit the following budget to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration for approval:
|
Professional and special services |
$ 37,750 |
|
Transportation and communications |
161,950 |
|
Other expenses |
13,500 |
|
TOTAL |
$ 213,200 |
It was agreed – That the Chair request three separate orders of reference from the Senate respecting international relations in general, new developments in Russia and the Ukraine and the evolution of the European Union.
At 4:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
François Michaud
Clerk of the Committee