THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 14, 2020
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 6 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Pascale Legault, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I would like to welcome everyone to the organization meeting of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Before we proceed with the election of the chair, I would like to introduce the senators who are participating in this meeting: Senator Carignan; Senator Dean; Senator Downe; Senator Dupuis; Senator Forest; Senator Gagné; Senator Jaffer; Senator Marshall; Senator Marwah; Senator McPhedran; Senator Moncion; Senator Munson; Senator Plett; Senator Saint-Germain; Senator Seidman; and Senator Verner.
Honourable senators, there is a quorum. As clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
[Translation]
Senator Saint-Germain: I would like to nominate, as chair of the committee, the Honourable Senator Sabi Marwah.
Ms. Legault: Are there any other nominations?
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain that Senator Marwah be the chair of this committee.
[English]
Honourable senators, in order to determine if the motion is adopted, may I ask senators who oppose to unmute and say “nay”? I declare the motion —
Senator Plett: This is not working.
Ms. Legault: Senators, I am sorry. I hear that Senator Plett has something to say.
Senator Plett: Pascale, whenever you speak in English and there is no interpretation, we cannot hear anything. We can hear the translator, but it never goes back to you. So I could only hear what the translator told us and I could not hear you recognizing me or that I was even in on the meeting.
Ms. Legault: I will check to see what’s happening.
Senator Munson: You sound very good now, just at this moment.
Ms. Legault: Senator, would you allow me to repeat from the beginning? Can you hear me well now, Senator Plett?
Senator Plett: No, I cannot hear you. I can see your lips move, but I can’t —
Ms. Legault: I don’t understand. Can everyone hear me very well now?
Senator Plett: No, no.
Senator Saint-Germain: Yes. I heard you very well.
Ms. Legault: The interpretation channel works better?
Senator Carignan: Maybe Don Plett has the application to put in the translation and not the audio of the room.
Ms. Legault: Senator Plett, can you hear me well now? I can start again in English. If everyone can hear me, I will just start again.
Senator Plett: You do not need to start again. I’m happy. I got enough, by the fact I could understand what Senator Saint-Germain was saying, that we have elected the chair or at least nominated him. I’m fine with that. Clearly, at some point, I will want to make a nomination for a deputy chair and I cannot hear myself. I can hear somebody whispering, “Pascale.”
Senator Saint-Germain: Senator Plett, personally I hear you five out of five.
Senator Plett: I hear you fine as well, Raymonde.
Ms. Anwar: Senator, I think you are on the French channel and you need to be on the English channel or the floor mic.
Ms. Legault: May I ask those who oppose to unmute their mic and say “nay” to the election of Senator Marwah as chair of this committee? I declare the motion carried. I now invite the Honourable Senator Marwah to take the chair.
Senator Sabi Marwah(Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Thank you. I hope everybody can hear me well. I very much look forward to working with you in running the matters of the Senate effectively, efficiently, cost effectively and with full transparency.
Colleagues, the next order of business is the election of deputy chairs. Pursuant to the motion adopted by the Senate on March 11, 2020, the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration is empowered to elect two deputy chairs. Are there any nominations?
Senator Downe: I would like to nominate, as one of the deputy chairs, Senator Verner.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Downe that the Honourable Senator Verner be the deputy chair of this committee. May I ask all those who oppose the motion to unmute and say “nay.” I hear no one, so I declare the motion carried.
Are there any other nominations for deputy chair?
Senator Plett: Yes. I would like to nominate, as one of the deputy chairs, Senator Beth Marshall.
The Chair: Thank you. It is moved by the Honourable Senator Plett that the Honourable Senator Marshall be the deputy chair of this committee. Honourable senators, in order to determine that this motion is adopted, may I ask all those who oppose to unmute their mics and say “nay.”
I declare the motion carried.
The next motion is on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. Can I have a mover for this motion? Is Senator Jaffer on the line?
Senator Jaffer: Yes. I move the motion.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Jaffer that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair and two deputy chairs; 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; and that if the committee is unable to meet, the subcommittee be authorized to deal with and resolve immediate administrative matters, and to report its decisions at the first meeting thereafter.
May I ask all those who oppose to unmute and say “nay.”
I declare this motion carried.
The last motion is for the publication of the committee’s proceedings. Can I have a mover for the motion before you?
Senator Munson: I move the motion.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Munson that the committee publish its proceedings. May I ask all those who oppose to unmute and say “nay.” I declare the motion carried.
Before we adjourn, are there any other matters senators wish to raise? If not, I wish to thank the Senate Administration and staff who have coordinated this first virtual meeting. I also wish to recognize the valuable collaboration from the Digital Services and Real Property team from the House of Commons. Without their support, this meeting would not have been possible. We are now adjourned and colleagues, stay safe. Thank you again.
(The committee adjourned.)