Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 25, 2006
(1)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:42 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Cowan, Dawson, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Rompkey, P.C. (10).

In attendance: Tara Gray, Jean Dupuis, and Lydia Scratch, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.

The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.

The Honourable Senator Mitchell moved that the Honourable Senator Day do take the chair of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Day took the chair.

The Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth moved that the Honourable Senator Cools be deputy chair of the committee.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Seantor Ringuette moved:

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.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Cowan moved:

That the committee print its 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 Cowan 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.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C., moved:

That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., 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.

It was agreed that the chair write to Guy Beaumier and Odette Madore to thank them for their work with the committee

The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., 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 3:06 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.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Dawson 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 Ringuette 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 Cowan moved:

That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling 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 Eggleton, P.C., 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 committee considered its business.

The Honourable Senator Dawson moved that the committee do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Accordingly, at 10:18 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 2, 2006
(2)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:34 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cools, Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Harb, Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, and Ringuette (9).

In attendance: Tara Gray and Lydia Scratch, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, the committee began its examination of the expenditures set out in the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.

WITNESSES:

Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat

David Moloney, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;

Laura Danagher, Executive Director, Expenditure Management Sector, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.

Mr. Moloney made a statement and, with Ms. Danagher, answered questions.

At 11:32 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 3, 2006
(3)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:19 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cools, Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Forrestall, Fox, P.C., Harb, Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Rompkey, P.C. (12).

In attendance: Tara Gray, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007.

APPEARING:

The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P., President of the Treasury Board.

WITNESSES:

Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat:

David Moloney, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;

Laura Danagher, Executive Director, Expenditure Management Sector, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.

Mr. Moloney made a statement and, with Ms. Danagher, answered questions.

Mr. Baird made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 9, 2006
(4)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, in camera, at 9:33 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cools, Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Fox, P.C., Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Stratton (10).

In attendance: Tara Gray, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee proceeded to consider a draft report.

It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room for this meeting.

The committee considered a draft report.

It was moved that the draft report be adopted and that the chair present it in the Senate.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 10:04 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 16, 2006
(5)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, in camera, at 9:33 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Cools, Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, Rompkey, P.C., and Stratton (11).

In attendance: Tara Gray, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room for this meeting.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered its agenda.

At 10:37 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 31, 2006
(6)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, 6:15 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cools, Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Harb, Mitchell, Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Stratton (9).

In attendance: Lydia Scratch, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

WITNESSES:

Office of the Auditor General of Canada:

Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada;

Ronnie Campbell, Assistant Auditor General;

Peter Kasurak, Senior Principal.

Ms. Fraser made a statement and, with Mr. Kasurak, answered questions.

At 7:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

Clerk of the Committee

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance