Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 25, 2006
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met at 9:35 a.m. this day, in room 160-S Centre Block, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Dyck, Gill, Hubley, Lovelace Nicholas, Peterson, Segal, Sibbeston, St. Germain, P.C., Watt and Zimmer (11).
Also present: The Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C. (1).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament, Lisa L. Patterson and Mary Hurley.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Sibbeston that the Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C., do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Clerk invited Senator St. Germain to take the chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Peterson, that the Honourable Senator Sibbeston be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley:
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; and
That the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
That the committee print proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Watt moved:
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 from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report regarding expenses in the previous session, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dyck moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts 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;
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.
The Honourable Senator Zimmer moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and Section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Section 8, Chapter 3:08 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Segal moved:
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 an 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.
The Honourable Senator Peterson moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable traveling 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.
The Honourable Senator Hubley moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dyck moved:
That documents be distributed to the members and staff of this committee via electronic mail whenever possible.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the committee that the regular time slots for its meetings are Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A number of members made statements regarding issues the committee might contemplate to address.
At 10:47 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gaëtane Lemay
Clerk of the Committee