Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 21, 2011

OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 21, 2011
(1)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 5:26 p.m., 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, Brazeau, Hubley, Jaffer, Kochhar, Nancy Ruth and Zimmer (8).

In attendance: Julian Walker and Laura Barnett, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Jean-Pierre Morin, Communications Officer, Communication Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.

The Honourable Senator Brazeau moved:

That the Honourable Senator Jaffer do take the chair of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Jaffer took the chair.

The Honourable Senator Hubley moved:

That the Honourable Senator Brazeau be deputy chair of this committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Hubley 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 Ataullahjan moved:

That the committee publish its proceedings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Nancy Ruth 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 Kochhar 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 Ataullahjan 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, 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.

The Honourable Senator Kochhar 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 Ataullahjan 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 Brazeau 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 a function, 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 Kochhar 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 Zimmer 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; and

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 informed members of the committee's meeting time, Mondays 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Honourable Senator Kochhar moved:

That the committee seek the reinstatement of orders of reference from the previous session.

The Honourable Senator Zimmer moved:

That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 5:39 p.m., the committee, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), proceeded in camera to discuss its draft agenda.

At 5:54 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee