Report of the committee
Thursday, November 27, 2025
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, to examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered:
a) to travel inside Canada.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:05, section 1(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee are appended to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
JOAN KINGSTON
Chair
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2026
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Wednesday, October 8, 2025:
The Honourable Senator Kingston moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Varone:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry, including, but not limited to:
(a)the unique nature of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore hydrocarbon resources and offshore petroleum industry;
(b)the value of and prospects for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore hydrocarbon resources in relation to energy security and Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada’s economy, as well as the opportunities to increase exports to international markets;
(c)industry regulation, including health and safety, environmental stewardship, impacts on marine ecosystems and Indigenous traditional fisheries, resource management and industrial benefits; and
(d)Indigenous and other stakeholders and key interactions with other industries; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than March 31, 2026, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Senate
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SUMMARY OF BUDGET
| Activity 1: ENEV — St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (Winter 2025 / Spring 2026) | $ | 47,160 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 47,160 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday, November 6, 2025.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Présidente du Comité sénatorial permanent de l’énergie, de l’environnement et des ressources naturelles JOAN KINGSTON Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources | |
| Date | Présidente du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration LUCIE MONCION Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2026
| ACTIVITY 1: ENEV - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (Winter 2025 / Spring 2026) | ||||||
| FACT-FINDING | ||||||
| 12 participants: 7 senators, 5 staff | ||||||
| (1 committee clerk, 2 analysts, 1 communications officer, 1 chair’s staff) | ||||||
| PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES | ||||||
| HOSPITALITY | ||||||
| 1. | Hospitality - meals (0410) | 200 | ||||
| Sub-total | $200 | |||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Transportation - air | 16,500 | ||||
| 6 senators x $1,500 (0224) | ||||||
| 5 staff x $1,500 (0227) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 11,000 | ||||
| 6 senators, $200/night, 5 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 5 staff, $200/night, 5 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 10,440 | ||||
| 7 senators, $145/day, 6 days (0221) | ||||||
| 5 staff, $145/day, 6 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Taxis | 4,320 | ||||
| 7 senators x $360 (0223) | ||||||
| 5 staff x $360 (0232) | ||||||
| 5. | Charter bus (0228) | 3,000 | ||||
| (1 day, $3,000/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $45,260 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 1,000 | ||||
| RENTALS | ||||||
| 2. | Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540) | 700 | ||||
| (1 day, $700/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $1,700 | |||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $47,160 | |||||
| Grand Total | $ 47,160 | |||||
The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Date | Marie-Eve Belzile, Clerk Assistant, Committees Directorate | |
| Date | Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Procurement Directorate |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, November 27, 2025
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget tabled to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, for its special study on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry, as authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The approved budget is as follows:
| Activity 1: ENEV — St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (Winter 2025 / Spring 2026) | $ | 43,430 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 43,430 |
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission and for 7 senators to travel)
The budgets approved by the Senate for each travel activity are the maximum amount that can be spent for that activity. Budgets normally include funds for the full membership of the committee to travel. In general, a reduced delegation actually travels and efforts are made to find additional savings. Therefore, actual expenditures are expected to be considerably below the approved budget, and they will be proactively disclosed. Any funds remaining at the conclusion of a travel activity will be clawed-back and can be made available for allocation to committees for other activities.
Respectfully submitted,
LUCIE MONCION
Chair