Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 15 meeting
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 4:15 p.m., this day, in room 160-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, De Bané, P.C., Downe, Eaton, Fortin-Duplessis, Mahovlich, Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), Stewart-Olsen and Stratton (10).
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Downe moved:
That the Honourable Senator Andreychuk do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Andreychuk assumed the chair.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the Honourable Senator Downe be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis 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 Downe 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 Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), moved:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication 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 Fortin-Duplessis 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 Mahovlich 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), 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 Fortin-Duplessis 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 De Bané, P.C., 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 purpose 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 Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), 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 Eaton 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 or other external consultant 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 informed the members of the timeslot for the committee.
The Honourable Senator Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), moved:
That the chair present to the Senate the following motion: 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 and international trade generally; and that the committee report to the Senate no later than March 31, 2013.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fortin-Duplessis moved:
That the chair present to the Senate the following motion: That Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to examine and report on the political and economic developments in Brazil and the implications for Canadian policy and interests in the region, and other related matters; that the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the Third session of the Fortieth Parliament and any other relevant Parliamentary papers and evidence on the said subject be referred to the Committee; and that the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than December 31, 2012 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until March 31, 2013.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee considered the following draft budget application:
Professional and Other Services $ 15,400 Transportation and Communications
253,880 All Other Expenditures
8,810 TOTAL $ 278,090
The Honourable Senator Smith, P.C., (Cobourg), moved:
That the draft budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 be approved and that pending the adoption by the Senate of the committee's order of reference on the political and economic developments in Brazil and the implications for Canada's interests in the region, that the budget be submitted by the Chair to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee