THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES, PROCEDURES AND THE RIGHTS OF PARLIAMENT
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 28, 2017
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day at 9:30 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Cathy Piccinin, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. Pursuant to the order of the Senate adopted on November 7, there is a vacancy in the chair of this committee, and it’s my duty as clerk to preside over the election of the chair.
I am now ready to receive nominations to that effect.
Senator Joyal: Good morning, Madam Clerk. I would like to propose Senator Housakos as the Chair on the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament.
Ms. Piccinin: Thank you, senator.
Are there any other nominations for chair?
Seeing none, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Joyal that the Honourable Senator Housakos be the chair of this committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Piccinin: I declare the motion carried, and I invite Senator Housakos to take the chair.
Senator Leo Housakos (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Thank you, colleagues.
We’ll proceed right away to the next order of business, which is to have two deputy chairs on this committee as we have on most Senate committees. I would like to move a motion to get the nomination for the deputy chairs; if there is agreement in one motion, we can have both deputy chairs, so I open the floor to nominations.
Senator Joyal: I move that Senator Fraser be one of the two deputy chairs.
The Chair: Do we have any other motions?
Senator Woo: I move that Senator Sinclair be the other deputy chair.
The Chair: It has been moved by Senator Woo that Senator Sinclair be named one of the deputy chairs and by Senator Joyal that Senator Fraser be the co-deputy chair.
Are all colleagues in favour of the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you.
Congratulations, Senator Sinclair and Senator Fraser.
And they said we wouldn’t come to a consensus on many issues, so we’re off to a very good start.
The third item on our agenda is the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Sinclair that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair and two deputy chairs; 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.
Are colleagues in favour of that motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you.
As you see, today we have a light agenda. Steering will be meeting Wednesday at the regular time scheduled for this committee, so I have asked the current and previous clerks to give steering a briefing then, and we will come back next week to the committee with proposed agenda items going forward.
Senator Joyal: In the previous meetings we have had this fall, it was mentioned, for senators who were then members of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, that we would resume our study on privileges. Considering this committee adopted a report, as you know, in 2015, there was the proposal that we would invite the Speaker, because at the time of the study of privileges, he was the chair of the subcommittee of this committee, which proposed a report.
I would suggest that the steering committee consider that option. Since if we have no order of reference from the Senate, of course we are open to the study of issues. This issue of privileges is the subject of a court case in the other place, and also one before the Supreme Court of Canada involving the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Quebec and the Speaker in Ontario. As you know, the outcome of those cases would bind the Parliament of Canada, the Senate and the other place upon their conclusion.
This is still imposing issues on us, so I would suggest that the steering committee consider that as being one of the subjects of discussion and debate within this committee.
The Chair: I agree, Senator Joyal. It is at the core of what this committee has been instructed to do. You are right that there are a couple of cases before the court right now, so I think that’s a very valid suggestion. Of course, colleagues, if there are any other suggestions, we’re open to them and steering will have a discussion to take that proposal under consideration, amongst others.
Colleagues, are there any other suggestions or other business? If there isn’t, I will call this short meeting and adjourn.
(The committee adjourned.)