Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Issue 1, Minutes of Proceedings - November 7, 2013
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 7, 2013
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs met at 10:36 a.m. this day, in room 257, East Block, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 12-13.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Baker, P.C., Batters, Boisvenu, Braley, Dagenais, Frum, Joyal, P.C., McIntyre, Plett, Rivest, and Runciman (11).
In attendance: Laura Barnett, Caroline Sauvé and Sandra Gruescu, analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., moved:
That the Honourable Senator Runciman do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Runciman took the chair and made an opening statement.
The Honourable Senator Boisvenu moved:
That the Honourable Senator Baker, P.C., be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C. 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 Braley moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dagenais moved:
That, pursuant to rule 12-17, 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 McIntyre 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 Boisvenu 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 Plett 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 Batters 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 Rivest 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 Joyal, P.C., 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.
It was agreed that the time slot for regular meetings will be Wednesdays from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m, and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room 257 East Block.
It was agreed that the chair and deputy chair would seek permission from the whips to extend the sitting time on Thursdays to 1:15 p.m.
The committee discussed a draft agenda.
At 11 a.m., the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee