Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 1, 2008
(19)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:31 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Terry Stratton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Cowan, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Nolin, Ringuette and Stratton (7).
In attendance: Jean Dupuis and Guy Beaumier, 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 Tuesday, December 11, 2007, the committee began its examination of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and establishment of a national area of selection).
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette, sponsor of the bill.
Public Service Commission of Canada:
Maria Barrados, President;
Jennifer Miles, Director, Regulations and Legislation, Policy Branch;
Cheryl Fisher, Director General, Staffing and Assessment Services Branch.
The deputy chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Ringuette made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:09 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:11 a.m., the committee resumed.
The deputy chair made a statement.
Ms. Barrados made a statement and, together with Ms. Miles and Ms. Fisher, answered questions.
At 11 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 2, 2008
(20)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:17 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Terry Statton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Cowan, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Ringuette and Stratton (6).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier, 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 Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, with the exception of Parliament Vote 15. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 7.)
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee commenced in camera to consider a draft report.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portion of this meeting.
After debate, it was moved:
That the draft report be adopted as the report of the committee on the Human resource management issues in the Public Service; and
That the chair and deputy chair be empowered to approve the final version of the report with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:20 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:42 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, the committee resumed in public to continue its examination of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and establishment of national area of selection).
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-219, An Act to amend the Public Service Employment Act (elimination of bureaucratic patronage and establishment of national area of selection).
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
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 Di Nino moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended, in clause 3, on page 1,
(a) by replacing line 22 with the following:
"national area of selection, except in the circumstances prescribed by regulations made by the Commission.'' and
(b) by replacing line 25 with the following:
"any selection or ap-''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived, on division.
The committee resumed consideration of the question that clause 3 carry.
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended, in clause 3, on page 1,
(a) by replacing line 22 with the following:
"national area of selection, except in the circumstances determined by the Commission, including:''
(a) the appointment of persons not ordinarily required to work more than one third of the normal period for persons doing similar work;
(b) the appointment of persons performing duties of a seasonal nature;
(c) the appointment for a specified period of six months or less;
(d) in cases of urgent operational requirements; and
(e) an appointment for part-time student employment under a program identified by the Commission.'' and
(b) by replacing line 25 with the following:
"any selection or ap-''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived, on division.
The committee resumed consideration of the question that clause 3 carry. It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Di Nino moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended after Clause 3, on page 1, by adding after line 27 the following:
"4. Section 3 comes into force on a day, not later than January 1, 2010, to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.''.
After debate, it was agreed that Senator Di Nino's motion in amendment be amended by changing the date of "January 1, 2010'' to the date of "July 1, 2009''.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, as amended, it was agreed that the new clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry, on division.
It was agreed that the chair report the bill, as amended, to the Senate.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the Committee