Proceedings of the Special Senate Committee on
Senate Reform
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 21, 2006
(8)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform met this day in room 160-S, Centre Block, at 9:01 a.m., the Chair, the Honourable Daniel Hays, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Chaput, Dawson, Hays, Hubley, Munson, Segal, Tkachuk and Watt (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Fraser and Harb (2).
In attendance: Brian O'Neal and Sebastian Spano, Analysts, Library of Parliament; Heather Lank, Principal 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). (For complete text of Orders of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
Patrick J. Monahan, Dean, Osgoode Hall Law School;
The Honourable Gérald-A. Beaudoin, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa and former senator;
Gérald R. Tremblay, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault.
The Chair made a statement.
The Deputy Chair made a statement.
Mr. Monahan made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:26 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:42 a.m., the committee resumed.
The Chair made a statement.
Mr. Beaudoin made a statement. Mr. Tremblay made a statement. The witnesses answered questions.
At 12:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 21, 2006
(9)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform met this day in room 160-S, Centre Block, at 2 p.m., the Chair, the Honourable Daniel Hays, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Austin, P.C., Chaput, Comeau, Dawson, Fraser, Hays, Hubley, Munson, Segal and Tkachuk (11).
In attendance: Jack Stilborn, Principal Analyst and Sebastian Spano, Analyst, Library of Parliament; Heather Lank, Principal Clerk 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). (For complete text of Orders of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Marie Bountrogianni, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for Democratic Renewal, Government of Ontario.
WITNESS:
As an individual:
Stephen Allan Scott, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, McGill University.
The Chair made a statement.
The Deputy Chair made a statement.
Minister Bountrogianni made a statement and answered questions.
At 2:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:14 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Chair made a statement.
Mr. Scott made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, September 21, 2006
(10)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform met this day in room 160-S, Centre Block, at 6:32 p.m., the Chair, the Honourable Daniel Hays, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Chaput, Comeau, Dawson, Fraser, Hays and Tkachuk (7).
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, 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). (For complete text of Orders of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
APPEARING:
The Honourable Benoît Pelletier, Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs, Francophones within Canada, the Agreement on Internal Trade, the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Access to Information, Government of Quebec.
The Chair made a statement.
The Deputy Chair made a statement.
Minister Pelletier made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:39 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:49 p.m., the committee resumed in camera, pursuant to rule 92(2)(f) to consider a future draft agenda.
It was agreed that the staff of senators' offices be permitted to stay in the room.
It was agreed that the Chair give a Notice of Motion in the Senate to seek an extension of one month for the committee's reporting date.
It was agreed that the committee hold a meeting next Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at noon to discuss a draft report.
At 8:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Piccinin
Clerk of the Committee