Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Fisheries and Oceans
Issue No. 1 - Evidence - January 26, 2016
OTTAWA, Tuesday, January 26, 2016
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met this day at 5:27 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Maxwell Hollins, Clerk of the Committee: Good afternoon, senators, and welcome to the organization meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
[Translation]
Honourable senators, we have a quorum. As the clerk of the committee, I have a duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
[English]
Senator Stewart Olsen: I nominate Senator Fabian Manning.
[Translation]
Mr. Hollins: Are there any other nominations?
[English]
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Hollins: The motion is carried, and I invite the Honourable Senator Manning to take the chair.
Senator Fabian Manning (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Good evening, everybody. After that long 60-day campaign, I'm delighted to be back in the position of chair. It's been a tiring but rewarding experience.
An. Hon. Senator: Sunny ways.
The Chair: Sunny ways, yes.
I certainly look forward to working together. Most of us are new at the table, so I look forward to what the future holds for our committee.
To continue with the business of this evening, I would like to receive nominations for the position of deputy chair.
Senator Raine: I nominate Senator Elizabeth Hubley.
The Chair: We have four people who want to nominate you, so you're off to a good start.
Senator Hubley: Thank you very much. I, too, am delighted to be back in this position and looking forward to our year ahead. Thank you all.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
Next is the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. We need someone to move:
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.
Could I have someone make that motion?
Senator Munson: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
I'm looking for a senator to move that the committee publish its proceedings.
Senator Poirier: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
Next is the authorization to hold meetings and to receive evidence when quorum is not present. The motion reads:
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.
Would someone like to make that motion?
Senator Hubley: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
Research staff:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign —
Senator Poirier: What happened to "Financial Report"?
The Chair: Sorry. The next motion reads:
That the committee adopt a draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).
May I have a mover for that motion?
Senator Enverga: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you.
Now we'll try the research staff motion:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
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 preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Senator Stewart Olsen: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
Odette, you can come to the table now and join us.
Everyone is familiar with Odette Madore. She has been with us for a couple of years and is no stranger to the cause.
Senator Stewart Olsen: She stuck around for punishment.
The Chair: She wouldn't miss it for the world, she said.
The next motion deals with the authority to commit funds and certify accounts. It reads:
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 the deputy chair.
Can I have a mover for that motion?
Senator McInnis: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Next is travel. The motion reads:
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.
May I have a mover for that, please?
Senator Raine: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Next is the designation of members travelling on committee business. The motion reads:
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 that 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.
Can I have a mover for that motion, please?
Senator Poirier: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
The next motion relates to the travelling and living expenses of witnesses and reads:
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.
Senator Watt: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I'm just making sure you're all in the minutes.
Senator Watt: Mr. Chair, I do have a question when you're finished. I'd like to come back to the subcommittee.
The Chair: Okay.
Next is communications. The motion reads:
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.
Senator Enverga: So moved.
The Chair: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
With regard to our time slot for regular meetings, there is no change whatsoever. This is for information purposes. The regular time slot is Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the Senate rises, but not before 5 p.m. We have an option for Thursday mornings if need be, but we don't like mornings.
Senator Poirier: If the option is on Thursday morning, what time do you normally meet?
The Chair: From 8 to 10.
Senator Poirier: Okay. It's just that we have another meeting at 10:30.
The Chair: We may have to use it from time to time.
Senator Poirier: I just want to make sure there's no conflict with any other committee.
The Chair: I promise that you won't have any stress on that.
With regard to other business, we need the following motion:
That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at all in camera meetings, unless there's a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
Senator Batters: So moved.
The Chair: All those in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Motion carried.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 2, to discuss future business of the committee. That will be at 5 o'clock or whenever the Senate rises.
Senator Watt, you had a question?
Senator Watt: Yes. I'm just wondering whether there is the possibility, if need be, for the committee to create a special committee.
The Chair: If we wanted to create a special subcommittee of this committee?
Senator Watt: Yes, with a limited number of senators that might have to deal with an urgent issue. That might be necessary from time to time.
Senator Raine: Do our rules have a procedure for that?
Mr. Hollins: Yes, I'm just looking for it. It is certainly possible. It would have to be approved by the usual authorities.
Senator Watt: It is already within our mandate. I'm just raising it because we have done that in other committees.
The Chair: Good point.
Mr. Hollins: For example, the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs is one that has been organized for a number of sessions now as a matter of course. But other committees can, as the need arises, create a subcommittee to look into a specific issue, question, what have you.
The Chair: Good question; nice to know.
Senator Watt: As long as we know we can do that if need be.
The Chair: Are there other questions or concerns to be raised this evening?
As I said, our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future business of the committee.
(The committee adjourned.)