Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - January 26, 2016
OTTAWA, Tuesday, January 26, 2016
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 5:27 p.m., in room 257, East Block, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-13.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bellemare, Johnson, MacDonald, Marshall, Massicotte, McCoy, Mitchell, Mockler, Neufeld and Ringuette (10).
In attendance: Marc LeBlanc and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 12-13, the clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the Honourable Senator Neufeld do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Neufeld assumed the chair.
The Honourable Senator MacDonald moved:
That the Honourable Senator Massicotte be deputy chair of this committee.
The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved:
That the Honourable Senator Mitchell be deputy chair of this committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion that the Honourable Senator Massicotte be deputy chair of this committee, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators Bellemare, Johnson, MacDonald, Marshall, Massicotte and Mockler (6).
NAYS
The Honourable Senators Mitchell and Ringuette (2).
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senator Neufeld (1).
After debate, it was agreed:
That the previous vote result be discarded and that the vote on the motion for the deputy chair be deferred until the next meeting.
The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte 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 one member of the committee representing the opposition and one member representing the Senate Liberals be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Massicotte moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator MacDonald 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 Massicotte 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 Mockler 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 Mockler 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 Ringuette moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the order of reference.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the committee that the regular time slots for its meetings are Tuesdays, when the Senate rises but not before 5 p.m. and Thursdays at 8 a.m.
The committee discussed other business.
At 5:54 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the committee