THE COMMITTEE OF SELECTION
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 12, 2020
The Committee of Selection met this day at 1 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Shaila Anwar, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, as the clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive nominations to that effect.
Senator Stewart Olsen: I’d like to nominate Senator Woo, please.
Ms. Anwar: Are there any other nominations? It is moved, therefore, by the Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen that the Honourable Senator Woo do take the chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt this motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Anwar: Motion is carried.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo(Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Before I go into my script, let me thank Senator Stewart Olsen for nominating me, and I thank all of you for being part of this committee. This committee doesn’t come together by magic. It comes together because the different groups are determined to make the Senate work through a process of negotiations, and I’m very pleased that we have been able to come to this place where we have a committee.
At the start, let me also recognize the clerk, the analysts, the pages, the translators and all of the people who support us on this committee. I want to say in advance that we appreciate the support you give us.
Let’s move to the second item on our agenda, which is the election of the deputy chair. I am ready to receive nominations for deputy chair. Are there any nominations?
Senator Saint-Germain: It’s my pleasure to move the nomination of the Honourable Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen.
The Chair: Noted. Are there other nominations for the position of deputy chair? Seeing none, is it agreed that Senator Stewart Olsen is our deputy chair? All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Congratulations.
Colleagues, the third item is on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. I think we sometimes call it the steering committee. I’m about to move a motion 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 this subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda and to schedule meetings.
Any discussion or comments? If not, all in favour of the motion, please say “yea.”
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: So moved. Now we have a routine motion, which has to do with publishing the proceedings of this committee. The motion is simply that the committee publish its proceedings. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed. Thank you very much.
That brings us to the end of our routine items. If I may bring up one small item on other business, it is that today we were unable to get to the heart of what we’re supposed to do, of course, which is to form the committees. That’s partly because, certainly on the part of my own group, we’re not quite ready with all the names. I know we all would like to get committees up and running as soon as possible. The way it works is that when we meet next, we will have a draft report with all of the names, but to facilitate that process it would be very helpful if our respective groups can provide the names to the clerk. I want to suggest that we do this by the end of next week. What do people think? Would Friday of next week be reasonable?
Senator Downe: That’s fine for our group.
The Chair: If there is a need for an extension, of course, we can discuss it. But as a tentative target? All right. We don’t need a motion to that effect; it’s an understanding that we do that. So when we meet, hopefully on the first Tuesday when we come back, we can put this to bed.
Senator Omidvar: Given how things are evolving in the world and in Ottawa, on the Hill around COVID-19, does this committee have the power to meet virtually or on the phone?
The Chair: That power is given by the Senate, but there is nothing to stop us from having discussions online, by phone and so on, which are more informal. I hope it doesn’t come to a point where we have to resort to virtual meetings. Are there any other matters?
Senator Martin: On that point, I think there are several committees that do have the authority to continue to meet, even if we’re not in session. That’s Ethics, CIBA. The essential ones. But other than that, with other committees, perhaps it’s something to discuss and see if there is a need for that, but at this point, just those essential committees, I think.
The Chair: Any other business?
If not, thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.
(The committee adjourned.)