Proceedings of the Special Senate Committee on
Senate Reform
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 28, 2006
(1)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on the Senate Reform met this day in room 256-S, Centre Block, at 5:57 p.m., for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Austin, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Dawson, Downe, Fraser, Hays, Munson, Murray, P.C., Segal and Watt (11).
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate and Adam Thompson, Committee Clerk, Committees Directorate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Special Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Austin moved that the Honourable Senator Hays be Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Hays took the Chair of the committee and made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Segal moved that the Honourable Senator Angus be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Debate.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and three other members 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.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved that the Special 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 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 Murray, P.C., moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research staff to the committee, and;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel 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 in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, 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 Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, 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 Chaput 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 Dawson 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 Munson moved that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the Special Committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than 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 Segal moved that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair made a statement.
The committee discussed its future business.
The Honourable Senator Comeau moved that the committee do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:45 p.m. the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 6, 2006
(2)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform met this day in room 160-S, Centre Block, at 10:50 a.m., the Chair, the Honourable Daniel Hays, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Dawson, Hays, Hubley, Munson, Murray, P.C., Segal and Watt (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Fraser (1).
In attendance: Jack Stilborn, Principal Analyst, Library of Parliament, Line Gravel, Committee Clerk, Committees Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 28, 2005, the committee began its consideration of the subject-matter of Bill S-4, to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure) and pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 28, 2005, the committee began its consideration of the motion to amend the Constitution of Canada (Western regional representation in the Senate).
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
C.E.S. (Ned) Franks, Professor Emeritus, Queen's University;
Leslie Seidle, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Research on Public Policy.
The Chair made a statement.
The Deputy Chair made a statement.
Professor Franks made a statement.
Mr. Seidle made a statement.
The witnesses answered questions.
At 1:08 p.m. the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 6, 2006
(3)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform met this day in room 160-S, Centre Block, at 2:01 p.m., the Chair, the Honourable Daniel Hays, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Dawson, Hays, Hubley, Munson, Murray, P.C. and Watt (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Fraser and Prud'homme, P.C. (2).
In attendance: Jack Stilborn, Principal Analyst, Library of Parliament and Line Gravel, Committee Clerk, Committees Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of the subject-matter of Bill S-4, to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure) and pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, the committee continued its consideration of the Motion to amend the Constitution of Canada (Western regional representation in the Senate).
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Janet Ajzenstat, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, McMaster University;
Roderic Beaujot, Professor, Sociology, University of Western Ontario.
The Chair made a statement. The Deputy Chair made a statement.
Professor Ajzenstat made a statement.
Professor Beaujot made a statement.
The witnesses answered questions.
At 4:06 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:08 p.m., the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e) to consider a future draft agenda.
At 4:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Piccinin
Clerk of the Committee