Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 5, 2004
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources met at 9:10 a.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Kenny, Milne, Spivak, and Watt (7).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Lynne Myers, Research Analyst, Science and Technology and Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier, Economics Division.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize, pursuant to rule 88.
The Clerk of the Committee presides over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny — That the Honourable Senator Banks be Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks took the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Milne — That the Honourable Senator Spivak be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Milne — 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 Milne — 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 Kenny — 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 of the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny — That the staff revise the draft first report prepared in accordance with rule 104 and that the committee consider the report at the next possible sitting.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Milne — That the Chair, on behalf of 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Buchanan — 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 Buchanan — That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred 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 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 Watt — 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 Kenny — 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 Buchanan — 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 Watt — That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee'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.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Milne — That the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to its mandate:
(a) The current state and future direction of production, distribution, consumption, trade, security and sustainability of Canada's energy resources;
(b) Environmental challenges facing Canada including responses to global climate change, air pollution, biodiversity and ecological integrity;
(c) Sustainable development and management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources including water, minerals, soils, flora and fauna;
(d) Canada's international treaty obligations affecting energy, the environment and natural resources and their influence on Canada's economic and social development; and,
That the papers and evidence received and taken during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee report to the Senate from time to time, no later than February 28, 2005, and that the committee retain until March 31, 2005 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Milne — That the following budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration if and when the committee's Order of Reference is adopted by the Senate:
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services
$ 37,580
Transportation and Communications
111,630
Other Expenditures
7,000
Total
$ 156,210
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair informed the committee that the time slots for its meetings are when the Senate rises but not before 5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons and 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings in room 257, East Block.
The Chair informed the committee of the request of a Russian delegation to meet with the committee at the end of March.
It was agreed — That the committee make arrangements to meet with the delegation if its schedule permits.
It was agreed — the committee invite the Honourable David Anderson, P.C., M.P., Minister of the Environment to meet with the committee to discuss Parks Canada and the funding of the Agency.
At 9:50 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 10, 2004
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources met in camera at 5:35 p.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Merchant, Milne, Spivak, and Watt (9).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Johnson, Gill (2).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Lynne Myers, Research Analyst, Science and Technology and Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier, Economics Division.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 10, 2004, the committee began its examination of emerging issues related to its mandate.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f) the committee proceeded in camera for the consideration of a draft report.
After debate, it was agreed, that $5,000 be added in Professional Services to the 2003-2004 budget on the special study for the purpose of hiring a writer/editor for the drafting of the committees' report.
At 6 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 12, 2004
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources met in camera at 9:55 a.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Merchant, Milne, Spivak, and Watt (9).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Lynne Myers, Research Analyst, Science and Technology and Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier, Economics Division.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 10, the committee continued its examination of emerging issues related to its mandate.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee proceeded in camera for the consideration of a draft report.
It was agreed, — That staff be permitted to stay.
It was agreed, — That the Steering Committee be permitted to negotiate a contract of no more than $3,000 for a writer/editor.
It was agreed, — That the Steering Committee be given authority to negotiate a contract for a communications consultant.
At 10:45 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Josée Thérien
Clerk of the Committee