Proceedings of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 22, 2011
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 22, 2011
(1)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 12:02 p.m., in room 172-E, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Dallaire, Day, Plett, Rivard and Wallin (5).
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved:
That the Honourable Senator Dallaire take the chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited Senator Dallaire to take the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved:
That the Honourable Senator Plett be the deputy chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved:
That the chair and deputy chair be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee 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 subcommittee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Rivard 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 subcommittee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Day moved:
That the subcommittee asks the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the subcommittee;
That the chair and deputy chair be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the subcommittee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, 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 Wallin 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 subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the subcommittee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the subcommittee; 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 Plett moved:
That the subcommittee empower the chair and deputy chair to designate, as required, one or more members of the subcommittee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Rivard moved:
That the chair and deputy chair be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the subcommittee 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 subcommittee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the subcommittee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the chair and deputy chair report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the subcommittee travelling on subcommittee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Day moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the subcommittee 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 Wallin moved:
That chair and deputy chair be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the subcommittee 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 and deputy chair be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the public proceedings of the subcommittee 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 Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. — 1:20 p.m.
At 12:10 p.m. the committee discussed future business.
The committee agreed to the draft budget, in principle, and that it should be considered by the National Security and Defence Committee once the order of reference is adopted by the Senate and that the clerk make the changes that were discussed.
At 12:50 p.m. the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Josée Thérien
Clerk of the Subcommittee