Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 2 - Evidence for April 14, 2005
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 14, 2005
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:36 a.m. to consider administrative and other matters.
Senator George J. Furey (Chairman) in the chair
The Chairman: Good morning. The first item on our agenda this morning is Senator Stollery's application for reimbursement for international travel.
Senator Stollery: Honourable senators, this application has an accompanying letter.
As senators know, because I have spoken to this matter in the Senate on at least one occasion, I have been attending the Wilton Park Conference on the Doha Round, in England. The Foreign Affairs Committee approved this travel the first time I attended. Last year, the conference took place in July in the midst of the federal election. I consulted with the leadership and met all the various requirements. I paid for the conference myself because it was very important given that Canada is active in these negotiations. The arrangement was such that I would be reimbursed for my expenses to the conference when Parliament resumed.
I hope to attend the conference again this July. These meetings are attended by many who are negotiators for their countries. It is a high-level conference that was first recommended to me by staff with the Library of Parliament.
This application with the attached letter has been circulated, so most committee members are aware of it. This was not necessarily the procedure that was first suggested to me, but that is where we are now. I must say that I would appreciate getting my money back. I am open to questions.
The Chairman: Honourable senators, are there any questions?
Senator Stollery: Shall I leave the room?
The Chairman: Yes, please, so that we can discuss your request in camera.
The committee continued in camera.