Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 15, 2011
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:17 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 Braley, Callbeck, Champagne, P.C., Cordy, Demers, Dyck, Martin, Merchant, Ogilvie, Seidman and Raine (11).
In attendance: Brian O'Neal, Karin Phillips and Havi Echenberg, 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 Cordy moved that the Honourable Senator Ogilvie do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Ogilvie took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck 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 schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Martin 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 Champagne, P.C., 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 Seidman 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 Demers 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 Merchant 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 Braley 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 Braley 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 Cordy 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 Dyck moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communication plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purpose 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 Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., 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.
The chair noted that the time slot for regular meetings were Wednesdays (4:15 to 6:15 p.m.) and Thursdays (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
At 4:32 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 4:39 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Jessica Richardson
Clerk of the Committee