Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 1 - Evidence - December 11, 2015
OTTAWA, Friday, December 11, 2015
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 8 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Gaëtane Lemay, Clerk of the Committee: Good morning, everybody. I am Gaëtane Lemay, Clerk of the Human Rights Committee. Welcome to your committee, the organization meeting.
As clerk of this committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair, so I'm ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Ataullahjan: I nominate Senator Jim Munson to be the chair of this committee.
Ms. Lemay: Are there any other nominations?
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Ataullahjan that the Honourable Senator Munson do take the chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Lemay: Carried.
I invite Senator Munson to take the chair, please.
Senator Jim Munson (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: I've waited 12 years for this — not.
Senator Plett: Where is the party tonight?
The Chair: I recognize this is a public meeting, but it was 12 years yesterday that I was appointed to the Senate.
Senator Plett: Happy birthday.
The Chair: Thank you very much.
I'd like to proceed with the meeting and the election of the deputy chair. I would like to move that Senator Selma Ataullahjan be deputy chair of this committee.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Next is Motion No. 3. I haven't looked at this part. Does somebody else move this or do I move this? I just read it, right?
Ms. Lemay: Yes.
The Chair: Okay. Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Plett: You don't want a nomination there?
The Chair: We don't do this right now, I don't think, today.
Senator Plett: No? Yesterday we did.
The Chair: Okay.
Number 4 is the motion to publish the committee's proceedings.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Number 5 is an authorization to hold meetings and to receive evidence when quorum is not present:
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 opposition and the Senate Liberals be present.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Research staff, number 6:
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 committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I was introduced to the two analysts and it was wonderful. It will be wonderful to work with everybody, actually.
Number 7 is the authority to commit funds and certify accounts:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Number 8, concerning travel:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Number 9 deals with the designation of members travelling on committee business:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Number 10 deals with travelling and living expenses of witnesses:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Eleven concerns broadcasting:
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.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I see we have number 12 on our agenda here, which is our time slot on Mondays.
Senator Ataullahjan: This is for information?
The Chair: For information only, but just for committee members, it's my view, in consultation with you, that 4 to 7 p.m. will be fine.
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: We can talk about it more, but we're going to have a —
Senator Plett: The votes would be okay.
The Chair: That could happen too. We also may be meeting Thursday sometime, but Monday works for the Senate, for the clerks, for everybody.
Senator Plett: Chair, would it be possible to consider 5 to 7 p.m., rather than 4 to 7 p.m.? Senator Frum and I both have a leadership meeting at 4 p.m..
The Chair: I, too, have leadership at 3p.m..
Senator Plett: Our leadership is with the other side, so it's not as easy for us to change.
The Chair: I have a difficulty going to 8 p.m. I really do have personal commitments.
Senator Frum: 5 to 7 p.m.?
Senator Plett: Maybe we should try 5 to 7 p.m. for a while.
The Chair: Sure, we can try 5 to 7 p.m.. I think that would be fine. We could work in two hours, I'm pretty sure. We need to have other meetings during the week, but I think we still have a slot on Thursday mornings.
Ms. Lemay: You have to ask for that extra slot if you want it. I have prepared a draft motion, if you want that slot, to seek permission from yourself, as a whip, and from Senator Plett, to get the Thursday time slot.
The Chair: I'm not so sure about a regular basis on Thursday.
Ms. Lemay: Okay.
The Chair: But to meet when required on Thursday, from 8 to 10 p.m.? Senator Plett and I both have obligations as whips. I sit on Internal Economy, and we sit on Thursday mornings.
Could be on a "required basis" on Thursdays?
Senator Plett: Sure.
The Chair: If we could put the motion —
Ms. Lemay: Give the motion?
The Chair: Sure.
Senator Plett: That's Thursday at what time, chair?
The Chair: It would be from 8 to 10 a.m.
Senator Plett: I have an Agriculture meeting on Thursdays from 8 to 10 a.m., but "on a required basis" is fine.
The Chair: I'm sure we can work that out.
I know, Senator Plett, you like to be here all the time, but you don't have to be here all the time.
I'm joking.
Do we have any other business?
I was hoping to hold a full meeting this afternoon at 4:00 until 9:00, but I —
Senator Plett: Unfortunately, it's not Monday.
The Chair: I'm going to change my mind on that.
Thank you very much. It's an honour to have taken the chair.
(The committee adjourned.)