Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 20, 2011
OTTAWA, Monday, June 20, 2011
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 4:03 p.m. in room 2, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dallaire, Day, Lang, Mitchell, Nolin, Peterson, Plett, Segal and Wallin (9).
Also present: 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 Lang 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 Plett 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 Nolin 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 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 Plett moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Segal 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 Plett 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 Peterson 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, 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 Nolin 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 Segal 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 Plett 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 Nolin 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 Day 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 public proceedings of the committee 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 slot for regular meetings were Mondays (4 - 8 p.m.).
The Honourable Senator Dallaire 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 Lang moved:
That the membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Dallaire, Day, Nolin, Plett 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Plett 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 authorize to examine and report of Canada's national security and defence policies, practices, circumstances and capabilities.
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the Third session of the Fortieth-Parliament be referred to the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Segal 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 study:
(a) services and benefits provided to members of the Canadian Forces; to veterans who have served honourably in Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces in the past; to members and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its antecedents; and all of their families;
(b) commemorative activities undertaken by the Department of Veterans' Affairs Canada, to keep alive for all Canadians the memory of Canadian veterans' achievements and sacrifices; and
(c) continuing implementation of the New Veterans' Charter;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the Committee on this subject during the Fortieth Parliament be referred to the Committee; and
That the Committee report to the Senate no later than June 17th 2012, and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 90 days after the tabling of the final report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:25 p.m., the committee considered a draft budget.
The Honourable Senator Lang moved that the draft budget be agreed to, in principal, and that it should be considered once the order of reference is adopted by the Senate.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
At 4:45 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 5:25 p.m. the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Josée Thérien
Clerk of the Committee