Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 27 - Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Fifteenth Reports of the Committee
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, November 4, 2004, to examine and report on the services and benefits provided to veterans in recognition of their services to Canada, respectfully requests that it be empowered to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of such study.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that Committee are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL MEIGHEN
For the Chair
SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
SPECIAL STUDY
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2005
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, November 4, 2004:
The Honourable Senator Meighen moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Keon:
That the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to undertake a study on:
(a) the services and benefits provided to veterans in recognition of their services to Canada, in particular examining:
access to priority beds for veterans in community hospitals;
availability of alternative housing and enhanced home care;
standardization of services throughout Canada;
monitoring and accreditation of long term care facilities;
(b) the commemorative activities undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs to keep alive for all Canadians the memory of the veterans achievements and sacrifices; and
(c) the need for an updated Veterans Charter to outline the right to preventative care, family support, treatment and re-establishment benefits;
That the papers and evidence received and taken during the Third 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 June 30, 2005.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Other Services | $ 6,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | 2,170 |
| All Other Expenditures | 1,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 9,670 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence on Monday, December 13, 2004.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
___________ ______________________________________________________Date Colin Kenny
Chair, Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
___________
______________________________________________________
Date George Furey
Chair, Standing Committee on Internal
Economy, Budgets, and Administration
SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS OF THE
STANDING COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
SPECIAL STUDY
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2005
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES
| 1. Professional Services (0401) | ||
|
$ 3,000 | |
| 2. Meals (0415) | ||
|
3,000 | |
| 3. Hospitality (0410) | 500 | |
|
|
||
| Total — Professional and Other Services | $ 6,500 |
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
| 1. Travel expenses (0201) | ||
| A. Travel for Fact-Finding | ||
|
||
|
||
|
1,000 | |
|
||
|
1,170 | |
|
|
||
| Total — Transport and Communications | $ 2,170 |
ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES
| 1. Miscellaneous contingencies (0799) | 1,000 | |
| Total — All Other Expenditures | $ 1,000 | |
|
|
||
| GRAND TOTAL | $ 9,670 |
The Senate administration has reviewed this budget application.
__________________________________________ _______Heather Lank, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate Date
__________________________________________
_______
Hélène Lavoie, Director of Finance Date
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, February 17, 2005
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence (Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs) for the proposed expenditures of the said Committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005 for the purpose of its Special Study on the services and benefits provided to veterans in recognition of their services to Canada, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, November 4, 2004. The approved budget is as follows:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 6,500 |
| Transport and Communications | 2,170 |
| Other Expenditures | 1,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 9,670 |
Respectfully submitted
GEORGE FUREY
Chair
Thursday, February 24, 2005
The Standing Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present its
SEVENTH REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 20, 2004, to examine and report on the national security policy for Canada, respectfully requests the approval of funds for fiscal year 2005-2006.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that Committee are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chair
STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
SPECIAL STUDY
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2006
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Wednesday, October 20, 2004:
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Day:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on the national security policy of Canada. In particular, the Committee shall be authorized to examine:
(a) the capability of the Department of National Defence to defend and protect the interests, people and territory of Canada and its ability to respond to and prevent a national emergency or attack, and the capability of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to carry out its mandate;
(b) the working relationships between the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering, and how they collect, coordinate, analyze and disseminate information and how these functions might be enhanced;
(c) the mechanisms to review the performance and activities of the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering; and
(d) the security of our borders and critical infrastructure.
That the papers and evidence received and taken during the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the Committee; and
That the Committee report to the Senate no later than March 31, 2006 and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize the findings of the Committee until May 31, 2006.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Other Services | $ 177,600 |
| Transportation and Communications | 608,500 |
| All Other Expenditures | 31,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 817,100 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence on February 14, 2005.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
___________ ______________________________________________________Date Colin Kenny
Chair, Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
___________
______________________________________________________
Date George Furey
Chair, Standing Committee on Internal
Economy, Budgets, and Administration
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
| Fiscal year |
1999-2000 | 2000-2001 | 2001-2002 | 2002-2003 | 2003-2004 | 2004-2005 |
| Total approved |
— |
— |
$ 364,200 |
$ 477,170 |
$ 359,347 |
$ 660,600 |
| Expenditures | — | — | $ 316,959 | $ 359,844 | $ 282,413 | $ 121,202 |
STANDING COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
SPECIAL STUDY
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2006
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES
| 1. Professional Services | ||
|
$ 32,400 | |
|
1,500 | |
|
32,400 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
28,800 | |
|
12,000 | |
|
5,000 | |
| 2. Reporting and Transcribing Services | ||
|
5,000 | |
| 3. Translation and Interpretation Services | ||
|
6,000 | |
|
3,000 | |
| 4. Meals | ||
|
7,500 | |
| 5. Hospitality | 2,000 | |
| 6. Advertising | 5,000 | |
| 7. Conference Fees | 5,000 | |
| 8. Miscellaneous | 2,000 | |
| Total — Professional and Other Services | $ 177,600 |
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
| 1. Travel - April 13, 2005 to April 21, 2005 | |||
| A. Public Hearings in Montreal Participation: 6 senators + 1 clerk + 1 logistics officer + 1 consultant + 1 researcher + 3 interpreters + 1 French Debates + 1 Media Relations (15) B. Fact-Finding in New York, Washington, Norfolk (Virginia) Participation: 8 senators + 2 clerks + 1 logistics officer + 2 consultants + 1 researcher + 1 Media Relations (15) |
|||
| Air transportation: | |||
|
45,000 | ||
|
20,000 | ||
| Ground Transportation: | |||
|
1,900 | ||
|
12,000 | ||
|
1,800 | ||
| Per diem and incidentals: | |||
|
|||
|
2,200 | ||
|
|||
|
4,900 | ||
|
3,900 | ||
| Hotel accommodations: | |||
| Montreal: | |||
| 2 days x $180 x 15 participants | $ 5,400 | ||
| United States: | |||
| 3 days x $325 x 13 participants | 12,700 | ||
| 2 days x $325 x 14 participants | 9,100 | ||
| Miscellaneous: | 8,000 | ||
| Total | $ 126,900 | ||
| 2. Travel - May 10, 2005 to May 14, 2005 | |||
| Fact-Finding Colorado Springs, Los Angeles and San Diego Participation: 6 senators + 2 clerks + 1 logistics officer + 2 consultants + 1 researcher (12) |
|||
| Air transportation: | |||
| Senators 6 x $5,700 (business class) | 34,200 | ||
| Staff 6 x $4,100 (economy) | 24,600 | ||
| Ground Transportation: | |||
| Taxis = $100 x 12 participants | 1,200 | ||
| Bus | 9,000 | ||
| Per diem and incidentals: | |||
| 5 days x $92.84/day x 12 | 5,600 | ||
| Hotel accommodations: | |||
| 4 nights x $325 x 12 | 15,600 | ||
| Miscellaneous: | 8,000 | ||
| Total | $ 98,200 | ||
| 3. Travel June 12, 2005 to June 25, 2005 | |||
| A. Public Hearings and Town Hall in Halifax Participation (Halifax): 7 senators + 2 clerks + 1 logistics officer + 2 consultants + 1 researcher + 1 administrative assistant + 1 Media Relations (15) B. Fact-Finding in London (UK), Mons and Brussels (Belgium), |
|||
| Air transportation: | |||
| Senators 5 x $11,000 (business class) | 55,000 | ||
| Senator (Europe only) 1 x 4,100 | 4,100 | ||
| Staff (Canada, Europe and Asia) 6 x $6,000 | 36,000 | ||
| Staff (Canada only) 2 x $3,000 | 6,000 | ||
| Ground Transportation: | |||
| Taxis = $100 x 16 participants | 1,600 | ||
| Bus | 7,000 | ||
| Per diem and incidentals: | |||
| Public Hearings and Fact-finding in Canada | |||
| 3 days x $73.10/day x 15 | 3,300 | ||
| Fact-Finding in Europe and Asia | |||
| London 2 days x $179.01/day x 12 | 4,300 | ||
| Belgium 2 days x $112.01/day x 11 | 2,500 | ||
| Dubai 2 days x $90.18/day x 11 | 2,000 | ||
| Camp Mirage (Location classified) 1 day x $100/day x 11 | 1,100 | ||
| Kabul — Camp Julian 3 days x $60.45/day x 11 | 2,000 | ||
| Hotel accommodations: | |||
| Canada: | |||
| 2 days x $180 x 15 | $ 5,400 | ||
| Europe et Asia: | |||
| 7 days x $325 x 12 participants | 27,300 | ||
| 2 days x $325 x 11 participants | 7,200 | ||
| Miscellaneous: | 15,000 | ||
| Total | $ 179,800 | ||
| 4. Travel - November 2005 | |||
| Fact-Finding Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton and Winnipeg Participation: 9 senators +2 clerks + 1 logistics officer + 3 consultants + 1 researcher, 1 media relations (17) |
|||
| Air transportation: | |||
| Senators 9 x $3,800 (business class) | 34,200 | ||
| Staff 8 x $3,300 (economy) | 26,400 | ||
| Ground Transportation: | |||
| Taxis = $100 x 17 participants | 1,700 | ||
| Bus | 7,500 | ||
| Per diem and incidentals: | |||
| 6 days x $73.10/day x 17 | 7,500 | ||
| Hotel accommodations: | |||
| 5 nights x $180 x 17 | 15,300 | ||
| Miscellaneous: | 7,000 | ||
| Total | $ 99,600 | ||
| 4. Conferences | |||
| Travel and Accommodations | 34,000 | ||
| 5. Promotion of Reports | 35,000 | ||
| 6. Courier | 30,000 | ||
| 7. Miscellaneous | 5,000 | ||
| Total — Transportation and Communications | $ 608,500 |
ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES
| 1. Rentals of meeting rooms | 19,000 | |
| 2. Purchase of books and periodicals | 2,000 | |
| 3. Office Supplies | 5,000 | |
| 4. Miscellaneous contingencies | 5,000 | |
| Total — All Other Expenditures | $ 31,000 | |
| GRAND TOTAL | $ 817,100 |
The Senate administration has reviewed this budget application.
__________________________________________ _______Heather Lank, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate Date
__________________________________________
_______
Hélène Lavoie, Director of Finance Date
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, February 24, 2005
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence for the proposed expenditures of the said Committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 for the purpose of its Special Study on the need for a National Security Policy, as authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 20, 2004. The approved budget is as follows:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 177,600 |
| Transportation and Communications | 448,400 |
| Other Expenditures | 31,000 |
| Total | $ 657,000 |
(includes funding for public hearings, fact-finding missions and conference attendance)
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE J. FUREY
Chair
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to table its
EIGHTH REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 20 2004, to examine and report on the national security policy for Canada, now reports that between November 2004 and June 2005, it held town hall meetings in Kingston, St. John, St. John's, Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Halifax and Ottawa to hear the views of Canadians on the future of the Canadian Forces.
This format provided your Committee with an opportunity to hear directly from individual Canadians about their views on what vulnerabilities Canada faces and what role the military should have in addressing them.
The content of our discussions with Canadians has been immensely valuable to the Committee's on-going study of Canadian national security and defence policy and will contribute materially to reports the Committee plans to table in the Senate in the coming months.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chair
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present its
FIFTEENTH REPORT
Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-26, An Act to Establish the Canada Border Services Agency, has, in accordance to the Order of Reference of June 29, 2005, examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment but with observations, which are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
COLIN KENNY
Chair
OBSERVATIONS
to the Fifteenth Report of
the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence
The Committee adopted Bill C-26, An Act to establish the Canada Border Services Agency, without amendment. However, during its consideration of the Bill, Committee members expressed concern with regard to clauses 15.1 (1) and 15.1 (2).
The Committee questioned the effect of Clause 15.1 (2) on Clause 15.1 (1) and on the Minister's stated goal of improving transparency and openness within her department and its portfolio agencies.
The Committee supports the obligation to report to Parliament annually on the operations and performance of the Canada Border Services Agency as is imposed by Clause 15.1 (1). The Committee's concern centres on whether the type of annual report that may be required by Treasury Board, which Clause 15.1(2) states may satisfy the obligation imposed by Clause 15.1(1), is an adequate vehicle for such reporting.
Specifically, the Committee questions whether a Treasury Board-mandated report would include sufficient data on issues such as critical incidents faced by Border Services Officers, indeterminate vs. temporary staffing levels by Port of Entry, and traffic volume by Port of Entry. The Committee recommended that the Canada Border Services Agency increase the data being reported to Parliament annually in the Committee's June 2005 report, Borderline Insecure1.
The Minister stated that she was open to considering an additional report to Parliament, in addition to that which is required by Treasury Board. The Committee expects the Minister to consider this option seriously.
Senator Michael Forrestall questioned Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada Anne McLellan with regard to the need for greater transparency and the adequacy of current reports to Parliament. Their exchange follows:
Senator Forrestall: Minister, we are talking a lot today about transparency and openness. You may recall, during the debate in the Senate chamber, some of us expressed concern about the absence of provision for an annual report. The suggestion from the government was that the report by Treasury Board be considered the annual report of the Border Services Agency. I ask whether or not you might have had a change of heart; and, if so, in light of the need for apparent transparency —
Ms. McLellan: Are you asking if I, as minister, would submit an annual report to Parliament?
Senator Forrestall: I would submit that the agency should submit an annual report to Parliament through you.
Ms. McLellan: It is being done. Mr. Jolicoeur tells me that.
Mr. Jolicoeur: There was an amendment to our legislation to ensure that we would provide that report to Parliament. It is done through the normal Treasury Board initiative of asking each department to provide the departmental performance report.
Senator Forrestall: That is not quite good enough. Your report has been filtered through another hand before it comes to the public. In fairness to the proposition of fairness and transparency and openness, I think you should be seen to be speaking for yourselves.
Ms. McLellan: Can I take that back and think about it in the next day or so?
Senator Forrestall: I wish you would.
Ms. McLellan: I will.
Source: Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, Unrevised Evidence (October 31, 2005).
_______________
1 Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, Borderline Insecure (June 2005), 35.