Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 12, 2004
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met at 11:00 a.m., this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, pursuant to Rule 88 for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Fitzpatrick, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kroft, Massicotte, Meighen, Moore, Prud'homme, P.C., Tkachuk (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Chaput (1).
In attendance: Ms. June Dewetering and Mr. Alexandre Laurin, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte moved:
That the Honourable Senator Kroft do take the Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Meighen moved:
That the Honourable Senator Tkachuk be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved:
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 consultation; 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte moved:
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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C., moved:
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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with Rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick moved:
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 Procedures 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.
The Honourable Senator Harb moved:
That pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, the 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, the 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.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on ``official business'' for the purpose 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.
The Honourable Senator Biron moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Meighen moved:
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.
The Chair informed the members that the committee's regular meeting times are Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. and Thursday mornings at 11:00 a.m., and that meetings will be held in room 505 of the Victoria Building.
At 11:35 a.m., the committee continued the meeting in camera.
The committee undertook discussion of its future business.
At 12:27 p.m. the committee continued its meeting in public.
The Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., moved:
That the following budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004 be concurred in; and, subject to the approval of the Senate to the proposed terms of reference on cross pillar mergers; and
That the Chair submit same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Professional & Other Services |
$ 20,200 |
Transportation and communications |
$ 0 |
Other Expenditures |
$ 1,000 |
TOTAL |
$ 21,200 |
At 12:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 19, 2004
(2)
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met in camera at 11:10 a.m., this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e) for the purpose of considering a draft agenda, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Kroft, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Fitzpatrick, Harb, Kelleher, P.C., Kroft, Maheu, Massicotte, Meighen, Moore, Prud'homme, P.C., Tkachuk (11).
In attendance: Ms. June Dewetering and Mr. Alexandre Laurin, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
It was agreed that staff of members of the committee may attend in camera meetings.
The committee discussed its future business.
It was agreed to place the study of credit rates on its agenda.
At 11:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 25, 2004
(3)
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met at 4:15 p.m., this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Kroft, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Fitzpatrick, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kelleher, P.C., Kroft, Massicotte, Meighen, Moore, Prud'homme, P.C., (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Baker, P.C. (1).
In attendance: Ms. June Dewetering and Mr. Alexandre Laurin, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 the committee undertook its examination of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (capital markets fraud and evidence-gathering).
WITNESSES:
Officials from the Department of Justice Canada:
Mr. Donald K. Piragoff, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Criminal Law Policy and Community Justice Branch;
Mr. William Bartlett, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy;
Ms. Joanne Klineberg, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy;
Mr. Normand Wong, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy.
Mr. Piragoff made an opening statement and, with Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Wong and Ms Klineberg, answered questions.
The committee discussed a draft legislative budget.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C.:
That the following budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004 be concurred in:
Professional and Other Services |
$ 9,750 |
Transportation and Communications |
$ 0 |
All Other Expenditures |
$ 1,000 |
TOTAL |
$ 10,750 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 17:25 p.m., the meeting continued in camera.
The committee undertook discussion of its future business.
It was agreed that names of potential witnesses for the committee's consideration of Bill C-13 be forwarded to the clerk by Friday, February 27, 2004.
At 17:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 26, 2004
(4)
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met at 11:05 a.m., this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Kroft, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Fitzpatrick, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kelleher, P.C., Kroft, Massicotte, Meighen, Moore, Prud'homme, P.C., (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Baker, P.C.(1).
In attendance: Ms. June Dewetering and Mr. Alexandre Laurin, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 24, 2004, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (capital markets fraud and evidence-gathering).
WITNESSES:
From the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers:
Mr. William M. Trudell, Chair.
From the Criminal Lawyers' Association:
Mr. Michael Lomer, Treasurer.
Officials from the Department of Justice Canada:
Ms. Joanne Klineberg, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy;
Mr. Normand Wong, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy.
Mr. Trudell and Mr. Lomer made opening statement and answered questions from members of the Committee.
Mr. Wong and Ms. Klineberg made statements and answered questions from members of the Committee.
The committee discussed its future business.
It was agreed, that March 10, 2004 will be the last day set aside to hear witnesses on the Committee's examination of Bill C-13.
At 12:44 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee