Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Forestry
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - Meeting of November 7, 2013
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 7, 2013
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 9:11 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding an organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-26.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Dagenais, Eaton, Maltais, Mercer, Merchant, Mockler, Ogilvie, Oh, Raine and Rivard (11).
In attendance: Aïcha Coulibaly, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Mona Ishack, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That the Honourable Senator Mockler do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler assumed the chair.
The Honourable Senator Maltais moved:
That the Honourable Senator Mercer be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Ogilvie 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 Eaton moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer 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 Mercer moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2) and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final text of the report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Oh 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 Maltais 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 Merchant 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 Dagenais 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 purpose 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 Merchant moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses 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 Ogilvie 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;
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.
The Honourable Senator Merchant moved:
That the committee time slot for regular meetings be on Tuesdays, when the Senate rises but not before 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room when the committee meets in camera, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee continue in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 9:47 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:48 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on research and innovation efforts in the agricultural sector. In particular, the Committee shall be authorized to examine research and development efforts in the context of:
(a) developing new markets domestically and internationally;
(b) enhancing agricultural sustainability;
(c) improving food diversity and security and
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject during the First session of the Forty-first Parliament be referred to the Committee; and
That the Committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2014 and that the Committee retain until September 30, 2014 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Kevin Pittman
Clerk of the Committee