THE COMMITTEE OF SELECTION
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 15, 2018
The Committee of Selection met this day at 12:46 p.m. pursuant to the order of the Senate respecting creation of the Special Committee on the Charitable Sector.
Senator Donald Neil Plett (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: Colleagues, I used to be an usher at church. I would try to encourage people to come up to the front. Here we’re doing the same thing as if we are in church. Some people need to sit right at the back.
Senator Woo: I have to step out at 1:00.
The Chair: We are all wanting to step out at 1:00 or right after.
We are going to move along fairly quickly here colleagues. We had some problems getting this done with our busy schedules, so we are going to go through business quickly and then discuss the date of our next meeting so that we can deal with some important issues.
Today, we will primarily deal with the ratification of the charitable donation committee. I don’t know whether that’s the correct name.
Blair Armitage, Clerk of the Committee: The Special Committee on the Charitable Sector.
The Chair: I am going to start off with the independent Liberals and ask if they have any nominations for their group.
Senator Mercer: I nominate Senator Mercer.
The Chair: And the Independent Senators Group?
Senator Omidvar: Senator Omidvar.
The Chair: Only one?
Senator Omidvar: No, we have two more: Senator Duffy and Senator Griffin.
The Chair: Thank you.
The Conservatives nominate Senator Frum, Senator Martin and Senator Greene Raine.
Are we all in agreement with those nominations?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you.
Blair, correct me if I’m wrong, but we would like to officially reduce the size of this committee from nine to seven for obvious conditions. So you will write something up and we will report that to the chamber when?
Mr. Armitage: This afternoon.
The Chair: Is it agreed that I report that to the chamber this afternoon?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Armitage: With a quorum of three.
The Chair: Yes, with a quorum of three. I think that’s it for this specific meeting.
I don’t have a calendar with me. I would like to set a date for our next meeting at which time Brigitte Desjardins will report to us about office selection. We will discuss a few other things at that time as well. We will send out an agenda.
I am looking at a time in March. I wonder whether a noon meeting is best since we all have busy schedules. How would a noon meeting on a Wednesday or a Thursday work? I would like to suggest March 28.
Senator Wallin: Wednesday is Veterans.
The Chair: You have Veterans on Wednesday?
Senator Wallin: Thursdays the committees go to 12:30. It would be easier to leave a committee a few minutes early than to miss one totally.
Senator Martin: Human Rights is on Wednesday. I think Thursday would be better.
The Chair: Is everybody okay with Thursday at 12:30?
Senator Omidvar: 12:40 would be better since we have Social.
The Chair: That gives us adequate time to get done before the chamber sits.
Is March 29 okay?If we are agreed, Blair will send out the notice.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you, senators.
(The committee adjourned.)