Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 26, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 8:32 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Banks, Lang, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Neufeld, Peterson, St. Germain, P.C., Sibbeston and Spivak (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator McCoy (1).
In attendance: Sam Banks and Marc Leblanc, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the clerk presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator St. Germain, P.C., moved that the Honourable Senator Angus do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Angus assumed the chair and made remarks.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved that the Honourable Senator Mitchell be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mitchell made remarks.
The Honourable Senator Neufeld 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 Lang 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 Peterson 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 Merchant 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 Banks 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 Merchant 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.
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 Lang 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 Neufeld moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness 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 Milne 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.
The chair noted that the time slots for regular meetings were Tuesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m..
The Honourable Senator Milne, moved:
That the chair table the first report at the next sitting of the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks, moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to its mandate:
(a) The current state and future direction of production, distribution, consumption, trade, security and sustainability of Canada's energy resources;
(b) Environmental challenges facing Canada including responses to global climate change, air pollution, biodiversity and ecological integrity;
(c) Sustainable development and management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources including but not limited to water, minerals, soils, flora and fauna; and
(d) Canada's international treaty obligations affecting energy, the environment and natural resources and their influence on Canada's economic and social development;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than June 30, 2010 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9 a.m., pursuant to rule 92 (2)(e), the committee continued in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that senators' staff and other Senate support personnel be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portion of this meeting.
At 9:51 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 5, 2009
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 8:02 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable W. David Angus, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Banks, Lang, Merchant, Milne, Mitchell, Neufeld, Peterson, St. Germain, P.C., Sibbeston and Spivak (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Brown (1).
In attendance: Sam Banks and Marc Leblanc, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, the committee began its examination of proposed user fees relating to the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada.
WITNESSES:
Natural Resources Canada:
Kiran Hanspal, Director General, Explosives Safety and Security Branch;
Christopher Watson, Director and Chief Inspector, Explosives Regulatory Division;
Jean-Luc Arpin, Inspector of Explosives.
The chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Hanspal made a statement and, together with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 9:32 a.m., it was agreed that the following legislative budget application, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 1,500 |
| Transportation and Communication | 100 |
| All Other Expenditures | 900 |
| TOTAL | $ 2,500 |
After debate, the Honourable Senator Banks, moved:
That the committee hire Dan Turner on contract until March 31, 2009 to edit and revise the draft report on the Arctic trip,
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of such study, and,
That the following special study budget application, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 5,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | 100 |
| All Other Expenditures | 900 |
| TOTAL | $ 6,500 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:53 a.m., pursuant to rule 92(2), the committee proceeded in camera to consider its future agenda.
It was agreed that senators' staff and other Senate support personnel be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portion of this meeting.
At 10:12 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the Committee