Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Issue 1 - Evidence - Meeting of November 6, 2013
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 6, 2013
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met this day at 5:25 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Adam Thompson, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, there is a quorum. As clerk of your committee, it's my duty to preside over the election of a chair. I'm now prepared to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Downe: I nominate Senator Andreychuk as chair.
Mr. Thompson: Are there any other nominations? Seeing none, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Downe that the Honourable Senator Andreychuk do take the chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Thompson: I declare the motion carried and invite Senator Andreychuk to take the chair.
Senator A. Raynell Andreychuk (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: To make it short, thank you. Hopefully we will continue to work in the same manner that we did before. We now turn to the election of a deputy chair.
[Translation]
Senator Fortin-Duplessis: I nominate Percy Downe for the position of deputy chair.
[English]
The Chair: Are there other nominations? We declare Senator Downe as deputy chair. Acceptance speech or none?
Senator Downe: Thank you. You'll get the formal letter later.
The Chair: All right. Since this committee has had a fair bit of continuity and discussion, I think we can move to paragraph 3: 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. Is there a motion to accept that?
An Hon. Senator: Moved.
The Chair: Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: By convention, we usually discuss whether we can work with each other and who might be a possible contributor. I have discussed in anticipation, not to thwart your contact, that we would be inviting Senator Johnson to join us on the steering committee.
Senator Robichaud: As long as she brings cookies.
The Chair: I'm sure you will show your appreciation in the usual way to Senator Johnson for taking on the task of Senator Downe and me.
Senator Johnson: It's a big job.
Senator Demers: The pay's good.
The Chair: We will note that we had our consultation and Senator Johnson will join us on the steering committee.
Item 4 is the motion to publish the committee's proceedings. Do I have a mover? Senator Robichaud. Is it agreed that the committee publish its proceedings?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Item 5 is authorization to hold meetings and to receive evidence when quorum is not present. Moved by Senator Dawson. Can I dispense with the reading of the full item as it is printed out?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Item 6 is the financial report. Is there a mover? Senator Ataullahjan.
Is it agreed that the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee?
Mr. Thompson: Was motion No. 6 carried?
The Chair: Yes. I will confirm that the committee adopt the draft first report prepared in accordance with rule 12-26 (2). That is the circulation of 10,406. It should be on your desk. This is the usual first report.
Are there any questions? I guess I preempted it by going to 7, so we will continue on 6. Are there any questions on these items?
No? So there is general agreement to accept this budget, which is the first report that we will be filing?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Then we'll go to research staff. It is moved by Senator Fortin-Duplessis:
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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Item 8: Authority to commit funds and certify accounts. Do I have a mover? All right. Senator Housakos.
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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I should say it has been the practice in this committee that the chair consults with the deputy chair on all of these decisions, not just the one stated at the end. We delegate responsibility here.
Travel. It is moved by Senator Oh:
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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Designation of members travelling on committee business. It is moved by Senator Smith:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized:
(1) to 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 on 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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: No. 11: travelling and living expenses of witnesses. Mover? Okay. Senator Verner.
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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Again, I should note for new members our practice that the clerk advises witnesses before so that we do not have any difficulty. Because in the past we have had witnesses arriving with an entourage expecting to be paid. And what we have forewarned has been better, and our clerk will continue that practice.
Communications, item 12. Senator Fortin-Duplessis.
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.
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Item 13, time slot for regular meetings. They are noted to be:
Wednesday from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
and
Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Agreed?
Senator Robichaud: Not earlier than 4:15, and at the adjournment.
The Chair: Is this the normal practice?
Mr. Thompson: For Wednesday or for Thursday?
The Chair: I think this is not for the purpose of the notices, which goes into that legal implication. It is the time slots that the two leaders had apportioned, and so —
Mr. Thompson: If I could say, Senator Robichaud is quite correct that we of are of course subject to the Rules of the Senate as far as meeting times. And presently we will meet no earlier than 4:15, but when the Senate rises.
The Chair: In other business, we started the study on Asia-Pacific. I'm presuming if I don't hear from anyone that the steering committee will address that issue and how we proceed with it, because we have to get an order again.
And we also have the Turkish study. I had a bit of a conversation with Senator Downe as to whether we needed to reintroduce it. But so much is going on in Turkey that I think it would be appropriate to do so. I should say that Minister Fast's office contacted me after the minister travelled to Turkey, and the feedback to him from the Turkish authorities was that our work was very instrumental in focusing them on Canada. And equally I should say the department and Minister Fast's office were appreciative of the work that we're doing.
I think it may be appropriate to reintroduce it. I don't know if anyone is against it, but I would find a way of doing so because it falls off the Order Paper and we have to reintroduce it. But there is a way and the steering committee will take that up.
Finally, we had referred to us four items. Do you have them? From Bill C-4, I believe.
Mr. Thompson: Yes.
The Chair: And the subject matter of the four areas, perhaps you can —
Mr. Thompson: There were in fact two areas. There was Division 4 of Part 3, and that relates to amendments relating to passports in the Criminal Code; and Division 16, which are amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
I have copies of the relevant provisions.
Senator Downe: Why is it coming here?
The Chair: We should ask our leaders that.
Mr. Thompson: I'm not certain at this point.
Senator Downe: Passports we've got.
The Chair: What I was going to suggest is if anyone had any opinions on this — or are you prepared to allow the steering committee to address these issues and see if it's (a) appropriate for our reference and (b) we think it should take priority over other work, because it's a pre-study. And we should find out from our leadership. My understanding was that it was this omnibus bill, and there was some resolution of apportioning certain parts to various committees. So I would like to know what the raison d'etre of that was. And we will go to steering committee.
Senator Dawson: What is the timetable?
Mr. Thompson: There is a reporting deadline of November 29.
The Chair: Is there agreement that the steering committee take this up and see the appropriateness of the portions assigned to us? If there is agreement in the steering committee, we will proceed. If there is any disagreement, it will come back to the committee. In the meantime, if there is anyone who has an opinion about it, please share it with Senator Downe, Senator Johnson and myself.
[Translation]
Senator Robichaud: Madam Chair, I wish to advise you that when this committee will study a section of omnibus Bill C-4, I will not participate, because I disagree entirely with the notion of an omnibus bill.
[English]
The Chair: Okay. I think the steering committee will still take it up, and you have expressed your personal opinion. With that noted on the record, is there further discussion or is there some agreement that the steering committee will take the subject matter of those up to determine the appropriateness of proceeding?
Agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Okay. Any other business, or the very famous adjournment motion that someone wants to go down in history for? Senator Dawson is looking very eager.
Senator Dawson: I propose that we adjourn.
The Chair: Great. Is there any disagreement?
Thank you very much for your confidence and your efficiency. And I hope we have good studies and good results, as we have in the past. Thank you.
I should say there's no committee meeting tomorrow, obviously, because we have not got any witnesses. The steering committee will meet, but no meeting tomorrow.
(The committee adjourned.)