Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Monday, December 3, 2007
(4)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day, at 3:35 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Colin Kenny, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Day, Kenny, Meighen, Mitchell, Moore, Nancy Ruth, Tkachuk and Zimmer (9).

In attendance: Gaëtane Lemay, Co-clerk of the committee, Committees Directorate; Steven James and Melissa Radford, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its study on the national security policy of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

The Senlis Council:

Norine MacDonald, President and Founder, Lead Field Researcher;

Almas Bawar Zakhilwal, Canada Country Manager.

CANADEM:

Paul LaRose-Edwards, Executive Director;

Christine Vincent, Deputy Executive Director.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee met in camera to consider its draft agenda.

It was agreed that staff be permitted to remain during the in camera portion of the meeting.

At 3:59 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 4:06 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting in public in room 2, Victoria Building.

The chair made an opening statement.

Ms. MacDonald made an opening statement and, together with Mr. Bawar Zakhilwal, answered questions.

At 5:11 p.m. the committee proceeded to matters related to committee business.

The Honourable Senator Meighen moved:

That the following budget application for the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:

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

At 5:12 p.m., the committee suspended.

At5:16 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. LaRose-Edwards made an opening statement and, together with Ms. Vincent, answered questions.

At 6:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Shaila Anwar

Clerk of the Committee

OTTAWA, Monday, December 10, 2007
(5)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day, at 4:14 p.m., in room 7, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Colin Kenny, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Day, Kenny, Mitchell, Moore, Nancy Ruth, Tkachuk and Zimmer (8).

In attendance: Shaila Anwar, Co-clerk of the committee, Committees Directorate; Steven James and Melissa Radford, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its study on the national security policy of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

RAND Corporation:

Seth Jones, Political Scientist.

National Defence:

Brigadier-General P.J. Atkinson, Director General of Operations, Strategic Joint Staff.

Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee met in camera to considered its draft agenda.

It was agreed that staff be permitted to remain during the in camera portion of the meeting.

At 4:32 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 4:34 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting in public in room 2, Victoria Building.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Jones made an opening statement and answered questions.

At 6:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At6:15 p.m., the committee resumed.

Brigadier-General P.J. Atkinson made an opening statement and answered questions.

At 7:45 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 7:48 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee resumed in camera, in room 7, Victoria Building.

It was agreed that staff be permitted to remain during the in camera portion of the meeting.

It was agreed that, notwithstanding rule 95(4), the chair seek authority from the Senate for the committee to sit on Monday, December 17, 2007, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., even though the Senate might be sitting at that time.

It was agreed that, pursuant to rule 95(3)(a), the chair seek authority from the Senate for the committee to sit on Monday, December 17, 2007, and on another day to be determined in January 2008, even though the Senate might be then adjourned for more than one week.

At 8:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee