Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, March 2, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 4:07 p.m. 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 Banks, Day, Kenny, Meighen, Mitchell, Moore, Nolin, Tkachuk, Wallin and Zimmer (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Atkins (1).
In attendance: Maureen Shields and Allison Goody, Analysts, and Marcus Pistor, Acting Chief, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved that the Honourable Senator Kenny do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited Senator Kenny to take the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved that the Honourable Senator Wallin be the deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and one other member 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 Tkachuk moved:
That the 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 Meighen 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 Wallin 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 Tkachuk moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
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 Zimmer moved:
That, pursuant to 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;
That, pursuant to 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; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks 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 Meighen 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; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable traveling 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 Day moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:32 p.m., the committee proceeded to discuss a draft agenda.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek authority of the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on the national security policy of Canada. In particular, the committee shall be authorized to examine:
(a) the capability of National Defence to defend and protect the interests, people and territory of Canada and its ability to respond to and prevent a national emergency or attack, and the capability of Public Safety Canada to carry out its mandate;
(b) the working relationships between the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering, and how they collect, coordinate, analyze and disseminate information and how these functions might be enhanced;
(c) the mechanisms to review the performance and activities of the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering; and
(d) the security of our borders and critical infrastructure;
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-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee report to the Senate no later than June 15, 2010 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 90 days after the tabling of the final report.
At 5:28 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to discuss its draft agenda.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure report on the status of proposed travel plans at the next meeting of the committee.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the committee be held on Monday March 9, 2009, starting between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
At 5:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 12:15 p.m., in room 172-E, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Colin Kenny, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Day, Kenny, Manning, Moore, Nolin, Tkachuk, Wallin and Zimmer (9).
In attendance: Allison Goody, Analyst, and Marcus Pistor, Acting Chief, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
The committee considered its draft agenda.
At 1:15 p.m. the Honourable Senator Tkachuk movedt hat the meeting be adjourned.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived, by a show of hands.
It was agreed that the committee consider two draft budgets at its next meeting, to be held either on Monday March 9, 2009, pending the availability of witnesses, or on Wednesday March 11, 2009, pending the approval of the whips.
At 1:29 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee