Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 5 - Evidence for September 25, 2003
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 25, 2003
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 9:06 a.m. to consider administrative and other matters.
Senator Lise Bacon (Chairman) in the Chair.
[English]
The Chairman: Good morning. Today's agenda is before you and I would like to know if honourable senators have any other matters to discuss? No.
First, we have the Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. I am pleased to present the thirteenth report of the steering committee, which deals with committee budgets. Senators will recall that the Internal Economy Committee recommended the release of substantial funds in the spring to enable committees to pursue their many initiatives. To date, the Senate has released nearly $1.7 million to committees.
When the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration recommended that release of funds, it was made clear that there is a substantial gap between available funds and funds requested, as you will remember. Therefore, we chose to release funds in a thoughtful manner by working in cooperation with the Chairs to enable committees to undertake their work, while respecting fiscal constraints.
[Translation]
The committee took a cautious approach this spring. We were aware that new requests could be made and we refrained from allocating all of the available funds. As it happened, the committee received six additional requests for funds totalling $270,000.
Before considering these new requests, the steering committee looked closely at the overall committee budget situation to determine funding allocation levels.
As Chair of the Committee on Internal Economy, I wrote to all committee chairs asking if they had made any changes likely to affect their funding requirements. I want to thank colleagues for sharing this information with me. I would especially like to thank the committees that voluntarily identified approximately $64,000 in surplus funds to be reallocated elsewhere.
[English]
I am pleased to report that the adopted clawback process that was agreed upon by the Senate in the spring has been very effective. Nearly $62,000 has been returned to the central budget by clawing back surplus funds after the completion of trips. We have received $64,000 from committees and $62,000 from the clawback provisions.
Taking into account voluntary returns and clawbacks, as well as funds remaining in the original budget, some $250,000 is available for distribution.
Our steering committee has reviewed the new budget submissions and the letters received from committee Chairs in respect of their updated budgetary requirements. Based on our review, we would like to recommend the release of the following funds: Banking has requested $35,000 for a special study on bankruptcy and insolvency; Fisheries and Oceans has requested $12,650 for a special study on Nunavut and Nunavik; and Foreign Affairs has requested funds for a special study on the Canada-U.S. and Mexico trade relationship that would include sending all members of the committee on a fact finding trip. We agreed to send three members of the committee plus two staff, for a budget amount of $56,500. The Human Rights Committee requested $50,350 for a special study on specific human rights concerns, and $5,500 for a special study on matrimonial property. National Security and Defence has requested a supplementary release of $40,000 for a special study on national security policy. The Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee has requested $9,000 for a special study on public health.
These releases are all for the new budgets, with the exception of the $40,000 for the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence. This release is a supplementary one for professional and other services to ensure that the committee has the funds it requires for support staff — a need that the Chair identified in his letter to me.
The thirteenth report recommends the release of a total of $209,000, leaving some $46,000 available for distribution. I am aware of at least one budget request that is still pending, the committee having just received its order of reference last week. It is important that we have at least some funds available for their budget, as well as unexpected contingencies.
Therefore, honourable senators, your steering committee has tried to be prudent and also to be fair, and I request the adoption of the report. Are there any questions?
[Translation]
Senator Robichaud: You stated that one committee was given a mandate last week. Would that be the Committee on National Defence that has been mandated to consider veterans affairs?
The Chairman: That is correct.
Senator Robichaud: Indications were that this committee would request approximately $25,000. Is that correct?
The Chairman: That is right. That is why we need to keep $46,000 in reserve to cover future requests.
Senator Robichaud: A total of $21,000 would remain for contingencies.
The Chairman: The budget is very tight. We have tried to be generous to those requesting funds.
Senator Robichaud: We always try to be generous.
The Chairman: Yes, but sometimes we simply do not have sufficient funds at our disposal.
[English]
Senator Bryden: Under number 4 — human rights special study, specific human rights concerns — virtually all of the money they are requesting is for transportation and communications. Where are they going?
The Chairman: It is a trip to Geneva and Strasbourg. There is a special international meeting on human rights they wanted to attend. We limited the number of people travelling to the steering committee members plus one staff person. They were asking for the full committee to travel and we said no.
Senator Stratton: May I ask how many are going?
The Chairman: Well, I do not know. We agreed to three plus one staff person, that is, four altogether; but they wanted the full committee to travel. We have done the same thing with the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. They want to go to Mexico, and we cut it down to three people plus two staff.
Senator Bryden: I move adoption.
The Chairman: So all the Chairs will report.
Senator Stratton: If I may ask, are we absolutely aware there are no other committees coming forward for additional funds?
The Chairman: Veterans Affairs is.
Senator Stratton: Other than Veterans?
The Chairman: Not that we know of. We do not have the money anyway. We have $20,000 left.
Senator Stratton: I appreciate that.
The Chairman: We have $46,000, but Veterans Affairs wants $25,000 so that will leave $21,000. That is all we have left, so they had better not ask for any more.
Senator Stratton: I can see it on the floor.
The Chairman: There is always Supplementary Estimates (B), but we are not at that point yet. That is adopted.
Adoption of minutes of proceedings on June 19, 2003. Any comments, honourable senators, on the minutes?
Senator Bryden: Are we going in camera now?
The Chairman: Yes. In camera.
The committee continued in camera.