Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 1 - Evidence, April 25, 2006
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 8 a.m., pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Ms. Jodi Turner, Co-Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. It is my duty to preside over the election of a chair. I am now prepared to accept any nominations.
Senator Campbell: I nominate Senator Kenny.
Ms. Turner: It is moved by Senator Campbell that Senator Kenny take the chair. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Turner: I declare the motion carried.
I invite Senator Kenny to take the chair.
Senator Colin Kenny (Chairman) in the chair.
The Chairman: We have a series of motions to deal with now. The next item is the election of a deputy chair. Could I have a motion to that effect, please?
Senator Meighen: I move Honourable Senator Forrestall be deputy chair of this committee.
The Chairman: Senator Forrestall is nominated. Any other nominations? Nominations closed. Those in favour of Senator Forrestall?
Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chairman: Those opposed?
Hearing none, Senator Forrestall is elected unanimously.
The next item is the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. It is moved:
That a 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 inviting witnesses, and to scheduling hearings.
Could I have a motion?
Senator Banks: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Next is the motion to print the committee's proceedings. It is moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
Could I have a mover for this, please?
Senator Campbell: I so move.
The Chairman: It is moved by Senator Campbell. Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed?
Carried.
The Chairman: Next is authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when a quorum is not present. Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed? Carried.
Next is the financial report. It is moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104 of the Rules of the Senate.
Can you explain the item to us, please?
Ms. Turner: It is the report that lists the expenditures for the last session. A copy is part of the package of things that you have.
The Chairman: Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed? Carried.
Next is research staff. It is moved:
That the committee asks 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, directs the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Could I have a mover, please?
Senator Atkins: I so move.
The Chairman: Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed? Carried.
Authority to commit funds is next. It is 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, deputy chair and the clerk of the committee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, chapter 3:06 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.
Could I have a mover, please?
Senator Campbell: So moved.
The Chairman: It is moved by Senator Campbell. Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed? Carried.
Next is travel. It is 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.
Could I have a mover, please?
Senator Meighen: I so move.
The Chairman: Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed?
Carried.
Next is item 10, designation of members traveling on committee business. It is 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.
Could I have a mover, please?
Senator Poulin: I so move.
The Chairman: Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Those opposed?
Carried.
Next is traveling and living expenses of witnesses.
It is moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness 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.
May I have a mover, please?
Senator Day: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed?
Carried.
Next is item 12, electronic media coverage of public meetings.
It is 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.
Senator Banks: I so move.
The Chairman: Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed?
Carried.
Next is item 13, Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.
It is moved:
That the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be established to study matters relating to veterans affairs that may be referred to it from time to time by the committee;
That the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs consist of five members, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That the initial membership of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be as follows: Senator Atkins, Senator Day, Senator Forrestall, Senator Kenny and Senator Meighen, and
That any substitution of membership be communicated to the clerk of the subcommittee;
That the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be authorized to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it;
That, subject to the approval of the Senate, the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of meetings be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, the committee's authority to commit funds be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act and guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, the committee's authority for certifying accounts payable be conferred on the subcommittee.
Senator Banks: So moved.
The Chairman: Moved by Senator Banks. Those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Opposed?
Carried.
With your approval, colleagues, I ask that we move the meeting in camera.
The committee continued in camera.