Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 14, 2007
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met at 4:07 p.m. this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, Munson, Pépin and Trenholme Counsell (11).
In attendance: Odette Madore, Michael Toye, Brian O'Neal and Havi Echenberg, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Keon moved that the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved that the Honourable Senator Keon be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and one other member of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Keon moved:
That the Honourable Senator Pépin be the third member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Munson 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 Pépin moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved:
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts 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, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Trenholme-Counsell moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 Munson moved:
That the committee empower the chair and deputy chair 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 Cook moved:
That the chair and deputy chair 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 a function, 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 Brown moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for 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 Pépin moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair noted that the time slot for regular meetings were Wednesdays (4 p.m. — 6 p.m.) and Thursdays (10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That the Subcommittee on Cities be established to study matters which may be referred to it by the main committee;
That the subcommittee consist of six (6) members, three (3) of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That the initial membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Champagne, P.C., Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Munson, and Trenholme Counsell;
That the subcommittee be authorized to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it;
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority to commit funds be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority for certifying accounts payable be conferred on to the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority, pursuant to paragraph 8 of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee; and
That, subject to the approval of the Senate, the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of public proceedings be conferred on the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the Subcommittee on Population Health be established to study matters which may be referred to it by the main committee;
That the subcommittee consist of a maximum of seven (7) members, three (3) of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That the initial membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Keon, and Pépin;
That the subcommittee be authorized to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it;
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority to commit funds be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority for certifying accounts payable be conferred on to the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority, pursuant to paragraph 8 of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee; and
That, subject to the approval of the Senate, the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of public proceedings be conferred on the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:
That each member of the committee be allowed to have staff persons present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:22 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that the Honourable Senator Brown be a member of the Subcommittee on Population Health and that the Honourable Senator Keon be a member (pro tempore) of the Subcommittee on Cities until the return of Senator Champagne, P.C., to full-time activities.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following three orders of reference:
1. That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on current social issues pertaining to Canada's largest cities. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to examine:
(a) poverty;
(b) housing and homelessness;
(c) social infrastructure;
(d) social cohesion;
(e) immigrant settlement;
(f) crime;
(g) transportation; and
(h) the role of the largest cities in Canada's economic development;
That the study be national in scope, with a focus on the largest urban community in each of the provinces;
That the study report propose solutions, with an emphasis on collaborative strategies involving, federal, provincial and municipal governments;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2009, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
2. That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the impact of the multiple factors and conditions that contribute to the health of Canada's population — known collectively as the social determinants of health — including the effects of these determinants on the disparities and inequities in health outcomes that continue to be experienced by identifiable groups or categories of people within the Canadian population;
That the committee examine government policies, programs and practices that regulate or influence the impact of the social determinants of health on health outcomes across the different segments of the Canadian population, and that the committee investigate ways in which governments could better coordinate their activities in order to improve these health outcomes, whether these activities involve the different levels of government or various departments and agencies within a single level of government;
That the committee be authorized to study international examples of population health initiatives undertaken either by individual countries, or by multilateral international bodies such as (but not limited to) the World Health Organization;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2009, and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
3.That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine the state of early learning and child care in Canada in view of the OECD report Starting Strong II, released on September 21-22, 2006 and rating Canada last among 14 countries on spending on early learning and child care programs, which stated ``. . . national and provincial policy for the early education and care of young children in Canada is still in its initial stages. . . . and coverage is low compared to other OECD countries'';
That the committee study and report on the OECD challenge that ``. . . significant energies and funding will need to be invested in the field to create a universal system in tune with the needs of a full employment economy, with gender equity and with new understandings of how young children develop and learn''; and
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine issues relating to the federal government's new Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy — Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage.''
At 5:15 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 21, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:10 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Cordy, Eggleton, P.C, Keon, Munson, Pépin, and Trenholme Counsell (10).
In attendance: Brian O'Neal and Havi Echenberg, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell moved:
That the order of reference adopted by the Senate on November 20, 2007 regarding the impact of the multiple factors and conditions that contribute to the health of Canada's population — known collectively as the social determinants of health, be referred to the Subcommittee on Population Health.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That the order of reference adopted by the Senate on November 20, 2007 regarding current social issues pertaining to Canada's largest cities, be referred to the Subcommittee on Cities.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology meet to study the subjects of poverty, housing and homelessness under the order of reference on population health adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and under the order of reference on cities adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and refer the evidence to the Subcommittee on Population Health and the Subcommittee on Cities.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Pursuant to the order of reference on population health adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and the order of reference on cities adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee began its examination of poverty, housing and homelessness.
WITNESSES:
Canadian Cooperative Association:
John Anderson, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy.
Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada:
Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director.
Canadian Housing and Renewal Association:
Sharon Chisholm, Executive Director.
Toronto Community Housing:
Derek Ballantyne, Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Anderson, Mr. Gazzard, Ms Chisholm and Mr. Ballantyne each made a statement and, together, responded to questions.
At 5:57 p.m. the committee suspended.
At 5:59 p.m. the committee resumed.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the following special study budget application (cities) be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and Other Services | $ 38,000 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Services | $ 2,000 |
| Total | $ 40,000 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
—————
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 22, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 12:50 p.m., in room 237 East Block, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cook, Eggleton, P.C., Keon, and Pépin (6).
In attendance: Odette Madore and Michael Toye Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference on population health adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee considered the budget for this special study.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the following special study budget application (population health) be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and Other Services | $ 120,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 53,070 |
| All Other Services | $ 8,250 |
| Total | $ 181,820 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 12:52 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 29, 2007
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:45a.m., in Room 2 Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook, Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Fairbairn,P.C., Keon, Munson, and Trenholme Counsell (10).
In attendance: Brian O'Neal and Havi Echenberg, 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, November 27, 2007, the committee began its examination of Bill S-220, respecting a National Blood Donor Week.
The chair made a statement.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-220.
It was agreed that the title, preamble and clause 1 stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that Bill S-220 be adopted without amendment.
It was agreed that the chair report the bill, as adopted, at the next sitting of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference on population health adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and the order of reference on cities adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee continued its examination of poverty, housing and homelessness.
WITNESSES:
Nanegkam Housing Corporation:
Patrick Augustine, Native Council of Prince Edward Island.
National Aboriginal Housing Association:
David Seymour, President.
Inuit Non-Profit Housing Corporation:
Lynda Brown, President.
Kinew Housing:
Lawrence Poirier, Manager.
Mr. Seymour, Ms Brown, Mr. Augustine and Mr. Poirier each made a statement and responded to questions.
At 1:10 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Barbara Reynolds
Clerk of the Committee