Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 3 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, September 26, 2006
(10)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:32 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cowan, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, Rompkey, P.C. and Stratton (9).
In attendance: Vanessa Moss-Norbury, Committee Clerk, the Senate; and Tara Gray and Lydia Scratch, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 12, 2006, the committee began its examination of Bill S-201, to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and geographic criteria in appointment processes).
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette, sponsor of the bill.
Office of the Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette:
David Michaud, Legal Advisor.
Public Service Commission of Canada:
Maria Barrados, President;
Donald Lemaire, Vice-President, Staffing and Assessment Services Branch;
Gaston Arseneault, General Counsel.
The Honourable Senator Ringuette made a statement and, with Mr. Michaud, answered questions.
At 10:35 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:39 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Barrados made a statement and, with Messrs. Arseneault and Lemaire, answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee again hear from the Honourable Senator Ringuette at its meeting tomorrow.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved that the Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth be Deputy Chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 11:31 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:32 a.m., the committee resumed in camera.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain during the in camera portion of this meeting.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
At 11:47 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 27, 2006
(11)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:17 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Chaput, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Downe, Fox, P.C., Mitchell, Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Stratton (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Cools and Oliver (2).
In attendance: Tara Gray, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: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. (For complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1, dated April 25, 2006.)
WITNESSES:
Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs:
David Gourdeau, Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs;
Marc Giroux, Acting Deputy Commissioner;
Wayne Osborne, Director, Finance and Administration.
Department of Justice Canada:
Judith Bellis, General Counsel, Judicial Affairs, Courts and Tribunal Policy;
Adair Crosby, Senior Counsel/Deputy Director, Judicial Affairs, Courts and Tribunal Policy.
Mr. Gourdeau made a statement and, with Messrs. Osborne and Giroux, answered questions.
At 7:11 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:12 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Bellis made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:58 p.m., the committee resumed and, pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 12, 2006, continued its examination of Bill S-201, to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and geographic criteria in appointment processes).
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette, sponsor of the bill.
Office of the Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette:
David Michaud, Legal Advisor.
The Honourable Senator Ringuette made a statement.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-201, to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and geographic criteria in appointment processes).
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
The Chair asked whether clause 3 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved:
That Bill S-201 be amended in clause 3, by replacing lines 16 to 25 on page 1 and lines 1 to 10 on page 2, with the following:
``3. (1) Section 34 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
(3) When establishing a geographic criterion in an advertised external appointment process, the Commission shall establish a national area of selection except where, in the opinion of the Commission, it is not in the best interest of the public service to do so.
(2) Subsection 34(3) of the Act, as enacted by.''
After debate, the Honourable Senator Ringuette moved that the motion in amendment be amended by deleting the words ``except where, in the opinion of the Commission, it is not in the best interest of the public service to do so.''
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment to the motion in amendment, it was adopted, on division.
The committee resumed consideration on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Stratton, as amended.
The question being put on the motion in amendment as amended, it was adopted, on a show of hands.
The question being put on the motion that clause 3, as amended, carry, it was adopted, on division.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved:
That Bill S-201 be amended, on page 2, by adding after line 14 the following:
``4. The provisions of this Act come into force two years after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the Bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the Bill, as amended, be reported to the Senate.
At 8:40 p.m., the committee proceeded to consider the following draft budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, for the purposes of its study of bills, subject-matter of bills, and Estimates:
Professional and Other Services $ 46,500 Transport and Communications 15,000 All Other Expenditures 1,000 TOTAL $ 62,500
After debate, it was agreed that the budget application be adopted and submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
At 8:48 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 3, 2006
(12)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:32 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Fox, P.C., Mitchell, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, and Rompkey, P.C. (11).
In attendance: Tara Gray and Lydia Scratch, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, September 27, 2006, the committee began its study on issues relating to the vertical and horizontal fiscal balances among the various orders of government in Canada.
WITNESS:
As an individual:
Robin W. Boadway, Professor, Department of Economics, Queen's University.
Mr. Boadway made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:35 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Till Heyde
Clerk of the Committee