Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday February 10, 2004
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 9:35 a.m. in room 160-S, Center Block, for the purposes of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carney, P.C., Chaput, Christensen, Gill, Johnson, Léger, Mercer, Pearson, Sibbeston, St. Germain, P.C., and Tkachuk (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Biron, Cools, Maheux and Munson (5).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Mary Hurley and Tonina Simeone.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to Rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C.:
That the Honourable Senator Sibbeston do take the Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer:
That the Honourable Senator Johnson be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Christensen:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultations; 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 moved by the Honourable Senator Chaput:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Christensen:
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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Johnson:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research staff 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 Pearson:
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 Carney:
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 adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mercer:
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 adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Léger:
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 Chaput:
That the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of it's 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair informed the committee that the time slots for its meetings are 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
The committee discussed its future business.
At 10:22 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee