THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AUDIT AND OVERSIGHT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 8, 2021
(1)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 25, 2021, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight met this day in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference at 6 p.m. [ET], for the purpose of its organization, pursuant to rule 12-13.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Klyne and Wells (2).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Downe and Dupuis (2).

Participating in the meeting: Shaila Anwar, Clerk Assistant and Brigitte Martineau, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Lindsay McGlashan and Raphaëlle Deraspe, analysts, Library of Parliament.

The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.

The Honourable Senator Wells moved that the Honourable Senator Klyne do take the chair of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The clerk invited the Honourable Senator Klyne to take the chair.

The chair presided over the election of the deputy chairs.

The Honourable Senator Downe moved that the Honourable Senators Dupuis and Wells be deputy chairs of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That the chair, in consultation with the deputy chairs, be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings; and

That, for substantive issues related to the mandate of the committee that are not of a merely administrative or routine nature, the chair shall not convene meetings nor take decisions until the external members have been appointed by the Senate.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research analysts to the committee, as may be required;

That the chair and deputy chairs 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 and administration staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Dupuis that the committee publish its proceedings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Dupuis that the committee adopt the draft report prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Wells that the chair and deputy chairs be empowered to direct communications officers assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Dupuis:

That, pursuant to Section 7, Chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, and the clerk of the committee;

That, pursuant to Section 8, Chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, 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 chairs.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Downe that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness 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.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Wells:

That in camera transcripts and documents be kept with the clerk for consultation by committee members; and

That no records be destroyed without authorization from the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Downe that each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed that the draft report on the nomination of external members be adopted.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek the authority of the Senate to cause that the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished or produced by the Standing Senate Committee on Audit and Oversight during the Second Session of the Forty-third Parliament be referred to the committee.

At 6:15 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:16 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).

At 6:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee