Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 1 - Evidence for October 7, 2004
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 7, 2004
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 1:30 p.m. to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Mr. Paul C. Bélisle, Clerk of the Senate, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. Your first item of business today is to elect a chair of this committee. Could I have a motion to that effect?
Senator Banks: I take pleasure in nominating Senator Furey.
Mr. Bélisle: It is moved by Honourable Senator Banks, seconded by Honourable Senator Robichaud, that Senator Furey be elected chair of the committee.
Mr. Bélisle: Senator Furey, please.
Senator George J. Furey (Chairman) in the chair.
The Chairman: Thank you colleagues for your vote of confidence. When this committee comes to an end sometime in the future, as all good things must, I hope there is still some of this goodwill and confidence left.
We have several items to deal with before we adjourn today. It will be very quick. The first will be the election of a deputy chair. Do we have a motion for deputy chair?
Senator Stratton: I move the name of the Honourable Senator Nolin.
The Chairman: Are there any other nominations? All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Senator Nolin is deputy chairman.
Item No. 2 on the agenda for today is tabling of minutes of proceedings of October 4, 2004. Those are minutes that no one has really had an opportunity to read. We will leave those to be dealt with. If you want to approve them today, we can, because they come from another committee.
Senator Stratton: I served on that previous committee.
The Chairman: We have a motion from Senator Stratton to adopt them.
Senator Stratton: Senator Jaffer served on that committee as well, as did Senator Robichaud. There is enough history.
Senator Jaffer: I so move.
The Chairman: Seconded by Senator Jaffer. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The minutes are adopted.
The next item will be a motion to print the committee's proceedings. It is suggested that 200 copies be printed for distribution to senators, MPs, officials and others. It is moved by Honourable Senator Robichaud, seconded by Senator Banks, that the committee print 200 copies of its proceedings. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The next item would be the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, the steering committee. It is moved by Honourable Senator Jaffer and seconded by Honourable Senator Cook 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.
For those who were in the chamber yesterday, there is still some discussion with respect to committee chairs being members of this committee. Rather than designate someone right now, there will be further discussion on that particular issue. We have worded it that we would like the authority to do it but not to specifically name the person right now.
Senator Stratton: What do you want the ``blank'' to say?
The Chairman: Just to say ``a name to be designated after the usual consultation and that the quorum be three members.''
Senator Banks: And what about (b)?
The Chairman: That the subcommittee be authorized, subject to the approval of the full committee, to strike other subcommittees; and that if the full committee is unable to meet, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, the steering committee, be authorized to deal with and resolve immediate administrative problems; and that it report its decisions at the first meeting thereafter.
Senator Banks: So moved.
Senator Di Nino: Mr. Chairman, I understand why there is some agreement that the quorum of the subcommittee be all members. However, it creates a problem if one is not available, if one is sick or if one is away. I think it would be better to have, and I have said this before, five members in that committee and that the quorum be four, if you wish, rather than three members so that the quorum is three. Decisions have to be made and they cannot be made if someone is absent, unless I misread that.
The Chairman: Okay.
Senator Banks: May I propose an amendment?
The Chairman: For now, Senator Di Nino, would you be happy if we go with what is proposed and when we decide on the final composition of this committee, then we will revisit this particular issue and make a further decision?
Senator Di Nino: The other comment I want to make is that both sides must be present.
The Chairman: Absolutely.
Senator Di Nino: That is absolute. I will leave it at that. You have heard my comment.
The Chairman: Honourable senators, all in favour?
Mr. Bélisle: If there are decisions to be made, until the next time you meet the steering committee, composed of three members, can take the decisions.
Senator Stratton: Regarding what?
Mr. Bélisle: Minor administrative matters.
Senator Di Nino: Or major. The point is that decisions have to be made.
Senator Banks: Can I propose an amendment?
The Chairman: To resolve Immediate administrative problems?
Senator Banks: Can I propose the amendment, which would be insertion of the words ``at least'' before the word ``one'' on the third line of 4(a).
The Chairman: Senator Banks, if it is okay, I prefer that we leave it as it is now and we will come back and revisit this issue at the first meeting, once we resolve the composition of the committee issue.
All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
The committee continued in camera.