Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, March 15, 2010
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 4:03 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, Dallaire, Day, Lang, Manning, Meighen, Nolin, Pépin and Wallin (9).
In attendance: Martin Auger and Holly Porteous, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Tracie LeBlanc, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Dallaire moved that the Honourable Senator Wallin do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited Senator Wallin to take the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved that the Honourable Senator Dallaire be the deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Lang moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and Senator Manning;
That each member of the subcommittee be authorized to designate for substitution, from time to time, another member on the subcommittee;
That the clerk be informed of any such substitution in writing; 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 Manning moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number of printed copies to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin 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 Meighen 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 Nolin 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 Lang 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 Pépin 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 Pépin 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 Manning 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 Lang moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of their development and implementation;
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 chair noted that the time slot for regular meetings were Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m.
At 4:20 p.m., the committee proceeded to discuss a draft agenda.
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved that a Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be established to study matters which may be referred to it by the committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved:
That the membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Banks, Dallaire, Manning, Meighen and Wallin, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That, pursuant to rule 89, the committee's authority to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to rule 90, the committee's authority 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, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority 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, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to 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 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(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of its public meetings be conferred on the subcommittee; and
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the authority of the committee to reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for witnesses, be conferred on the subcommittee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Wallin 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 and defence policies of Canada, including, but not limited to:
(a) the capability of National Defence to defend and protect the interests, people and territory of Canada both here and abroad; and its ability to prevent and respond to a national emergency or attack;
(b) the role of our Forces in Afghanistan and post 2011;
(c) the relationship with NATO, NORAD, the UN, other international bodies and our allies; the role and use of reservists; the effectiveness of humanitarian efforts such as Haiti; and the Canada First Defence Strategy;
(d) the working relationships among the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering, security, protection and defence, and how they collect, coordinate, analyze and disseminate information and whether these functions might be enhanced;
(e) the existing mechanisms to review the performance and activities of the various agencies involved in security, intelligence, defence and humanitarian assistance; and
(f) the security of our borders and critical infrastructure and the impact on consumers, transport systems, border security and budgets;
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 16, 2011 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 90 days after the tabling of the final report.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 5:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, March 22, 2010
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 4:07 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Pamela Wallin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dallaire, Day, Martin, Meighen, Nolin, Patterson, Pépin and Wallin (8).
In attendance: Martin Auger and Holly Porteous, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Tracie LeBlanc, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, the committee began its study of Canada's national security and defence policy.
WITNESSES:
St. Jerome's University:
Whitney Lackenbauer, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:
Alan H. Kessel, Legal Adviser.
University of British Columbia:
Michael Byers, Professor.
As an individual:
Colonel (Retired) Pierre Leblanc.
Whitney Lackenbauer made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:08 p.m., the committee resumed.
Alan H. Kessel made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:59 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:24 p.m., the committee resumed.
Dr. Michael Byers made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:08 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:12 p.m., the committee resumed.
Colonel (Retired) Pierre Leblanc made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:51 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Kevin Pittman
Clerk of the Committee