Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 11, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 5 p.m., in room 256-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Corbin, Dawson, De Bané, P.C., Di Nino, Downe, Fortin-Duplessis, Grafstein, Mahovlich, Segal, Stollery and Wallin (12).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Prud'homme, P.C. (1).
In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn, and Jennifer Paul, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, 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 Stollery moved that the Honourable Senator Di Nino do take the chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Di Nino took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved that the Honourable Senator Stollery be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that consideration of the following motion be postponed until the next meeting of the committee:
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 schedule hearings.
The Honourable Senator Stollery moved:
That the committee print copies of its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Stollery 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 Andreychuk moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Corbin moved:
That 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, directs the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
After debate, it was agreed that consideration of the following motion be postponed until the next meeting of the committee:
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 Honourable Senator Grafstein 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 Stollery 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 reports at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein 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 second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission 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 committee proceeded to discuss its future business.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Segal moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to examine the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, in accordance with Rule 86(1)(h), be authorized to examine such issues as may arise from time to time relating to Foreign relations generally; and
That the committee report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2010.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Corbin moved:
That the motion be amended by deleting the following words "relations generally, and'' and replacing them with "relations and international trade generally; and''.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the motion, as amended, be adopted.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Stollery moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to examine the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on the rise of China, India and Russia in the global economy and the implications for Canadian policy;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the committee on this subject during the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee present its final report no later than June 30, 2010, and that it retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until September 30, 2010.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:08 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 25, 2009
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in camera this day, at 4 p.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Consiglio Di Nino, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Corbin, Dawson, De Bané, P.C., Di Nino, Downe, Fortin-Duplessis, Mahovlich, Segal, Stollery and Wallin (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kinsella (1).
In attendance: Natalie Mychajlyszyn and Jennifer Paul, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during this meeting.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and Senator Dawson; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
It was agreed 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.
At 4:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Denis Robert
Clerk of the Committee