Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 1 - Evidence
OTTAWA, Monday, February 16, 2004
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:35 p.m., pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, for an organization meeting.
[Translation]
Ms. Line Gravel, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, we have a quorum. In accordance with rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, it is my duty to preside over the election of the Chair. I am ready to receive motions to that effect.
Senator Beaudoin: I move that Senator Maheu be elected to the Chair.
Ms. Gravel: Are there any other motions?
Senator Ferretti Barth: I did not understand what was said.
Ms. Gravel: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Beaudoin:
That Senator Maheu do take the Chair of this committee.
Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt said motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Gravel: You have been elected and may take the Chair, Senator.
Senator Shirley Maheu (Chairman) in the Chair.
The Chairman: Item 2 on our agenda is the election of the Deputy Chair.
Senator Beaudoin: I move that Senator Rossiter be elected Deputy Chair of the committee.
The Chairman: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Beaudoin:
That the Honourable Senator Rossiter be Deputy Chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt said motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item 3 on our agenda is the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. Last year, Senator Rossiter was selected to sit on the committee but unfortunately, he did not attend any meetings. Perhaps this time Senator Beaudoin could be selected, along with Senator LaPierre. Is that feasible? If she is unable to attend?
Senator Beaudoin: In practice, I sit on the steering committee, but according to the rules, I think it has to be Senator Rossiter.
The Chairman: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth, that the Honourable Senator LaPierre serve on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Moving on to item 4 on the agenda, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth, seconded by the Honourable Senator Beaudoin:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The Chairman: Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Item 5 on the agenda:
Authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when quorum is not present.
Senator Ferretti Barth: This would ensure some continuity.
Senator Beaudoin: We discussed this very matter in the official languages committee.
The Chairman: A member from the opposition must be present.
Ms. Gravel: Correct.
Senator Beaudoin: A member from the opposition who does not have to be named.
The Chairman: Correct, an opposition member.
Senator Beaudoin: I do not have a problem with that. It allows us to sit, even in the absence of quorum.
Senator Ferretti Barth: I understand.
The Chairman: All committees have now adopted this practice.
Senator Ferretti Barth: They have no choice, otherwise they will not be able to sit.
Senator Beaudoin: The committee would in effect be paralyzed.
The Chairman: Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Item 6: Financial Report. Senators have received a copy of the report. Would you like a moment to review the contents?
Senator Beaudoin: It appears to be quite reasonable.
The Chairman: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Item 7: Research Staff.
It is moved that the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research staff to the committee; and
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.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Ferretti Barth, seconded by the Honourable Senator Jaffer, that the motion be adopted. Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt said motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item 8:
Authority to commit funds and certify accounts.
That authority be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee.
We discussed this matter in the official languages committee.
Senator Beaudoin: Yes, we deleted the word ``individually'' or replaced it with ``ou'' or ``or'' as the case may be. I fail to understand the rationale for using the word ``individually'' here. One or two of these persons should sign off, but certainly not all three. It could be the Chair alone, or the Chair and the Clerk.
Ms. Gravel: In my opinion, either the Chair and the Clerk, or the Chair and the Deputy Chair.
The Chairman: Is everyone satisfied with that solution? Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Item 10: Designation of Members traveling on Committee Business
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;
What does that mean exactly?
Ms. Gravel: You skipped over item 9, travel?
The Chairman: Item 9:
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 Honourable Senator has moved the adoption of item 9 on our agenda. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt said motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Getting back to item 10 and the reference to the policy published on June 3, 1998, could you clarify this for me?
Ms. Gravel: Attendance is now very important. If the committee designates one of its members to travel, that member is listed as traveling on official business in the Journals of the Senate. The steering committee is responsible for making this determination. This is a new provision, one that was approved by senators. The purpose is simply to ensure that attendance is in order.
The Chairman: Members are designated as traveling on official business, rather than just traveling.
The Clerk: At the same time, they are deemed to be in attendance in the Senate.
Senator Beaudoin: Really?
Ms. Gravel: Yes.
The Chairman: The Honourable Senator Jaffer moves the adoption of item 10. Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item 11 concerns the traveling and living expenses of witnesses. The committee will reimburse the traveling and living expenses for one witness, and, should there be exceptional circumstances, for two witnesses. Several times last year, the committee reimbursed the expenses of two witnesses, but that is the exception, not the rule.
If a witness must be accompanied by another person, then permission is granted. We have never adopted a hard line where such matters are concerned. However, if this provision were not in place, four or five persons from the same group would be asking to have their expenses reimbursed by the committee.
The Chairman: Fine then. Item 12 on our agenda pertains to the electronic coverage of public meetings.
Senator Jaffer: I move the motion.
The Chairman: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Jaffer,
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.
Is it the pleasure of honourable senators to adopt said motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item 13 on our agenda concerns the time slot for regular meetings. I had asked the whip to speak today with the opposition whip and with the Senate leadership because three committees are scheduled to meet at the same time. Senator Jim Munson sits on the official languages and national security and defence committees, while Senator Beaudoin and I also sit on the official languages committee. These committees always meet at the same time. Therefore, this makes no sense. Either they find another time slot and leave the official languages committee as the only committee meeting on Mondays, or else we schedule five hours every two weeks, as stipulated in the Rules of the Senate. I do not know the outcome of the discussions. Do I have your permission to speak with the whip this evening? I will advise you of his decision as soon as I know what it is.
Senator Beaudoin: I no longer have a problem with Monday mornings as I now teach on Fridays.
The Chairman: Friday meetings would be a problem then.
Senator Beaudoin: I am free all day on Monday.
Senator Ferretti Barth: Fridays are not good for me.
The Chairman: Then we will forget about Fridays.
Senator Beaudoin: Fine then.
Senator Ferretti Barth: We could meet at 2 p.m., instead of at 4:30 p.m.
The Chairman: I spoke to the whip about that, but we need the opposition's consent. Also, we need to allow Senator Jaffer enough time to get back to Ottawa for the meeting.
Senator Jaffer: That does not leave me enough time to get here.
Senator Beaudoin: Since you are flying in from Vancouver, the meeting cannot be before 5 p.m.
Senator Jaffer: I am here by then.
The Chairman: As a rule, are you available for a 5 p.m. meeting?
Senator Jaffer: Yes.
The Chairman: I will let you know this evening what the whips have decided to do. After all, the decision is in their hands.
Senator Ferretti Barth: At what time is the official languages committee slated to meet?
This Chairman: At 5:30 p.m. this evening. We have to wrap up by 8 p.m. because the Senate is scheduled to sit. If the official languages committee does not meet every week, and if we have to hold a meeting, we will not have two committees sitting on Mondays.
Senator Ferretti Barth: It depends on whether any members of the official languages committee are traveling back to Ottawa from a far-away location. If there are no committee members from the West, then we could schedule meetings.
Senator Beaudoin: Senator Comeau is from Nova Scotia. It takes him seven hours to get here. I do not understand why, but that is how it is.
The Chairman: I will let you know this evening. Are we agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Is there consent to sit in camera to discuss the committee's future business?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The committee continued its meeting in camera.