Wednesday, April 6, 2022

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

Pursuant to rule 12-7(2)(a), your committee recommends that the Rules of the Senate be amended:

1.by replacing rule 12-7 by the following:

“Appointment and general mandates

12-7. The Senate shall appoint the following standing committees:

Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

12-7. (1) the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, which shall be authorized:

(a) to consider, on its own initiative, all financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate’s internal administration, and

(b) subject to the Senate Administrative Rules, to act on all financial and administrative matters concerning the internal administration of the Senate and to interpret and determine the propriety of any use of Senate resources;

Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

12-7. (2) the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, which shall be authorized:

(a) to propose from time to time, on its own initiative, amendments to the Rules for the consideration of the Senate,

(b) to examine any question of privilege referred to it by the Senate, and

(c) to consider the orders and practices of the Senate and the privileges of Parliament;

Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators

12-7. (3) the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, which shall be authorized:

(a) to exercise general direction over the Senate Ethics Officer, and

(b) to be responsible, on its own initiative, for all matters relating to the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, including all forms involving Senators that are used in its administration, subject to the general jurisdiction of the Senate;

Audit and Oversight

12-7. (4) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, which, for the purposes of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability, shall be authorized, on its own initiative, to:

(a) retain the services of and oversee the external auditors and internal auditors;

(b) supervise the Senate’s internal and external audits;

(c) report to the Senate regarding the internal and external audits, including audit reports and other matters;

(d) review the Senate Administration’s action plans to ensure:

(i) that they adequately address the recommendations and findings arising from internal and external audits, and

(ii) that they are effectively implemented;

(e) review the Senate’s Quarterly Financial Reports and the audited Financial Statements, and report them to the Senate; and

(f) report at least annually with observations and recommendations to the Senate;

Official Languages

12-7. (5) the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, to which may be referred matters relating to official languages generally;

Foreign Affairs and International Trade

12-7. (6) the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, to which may be referred matters relating to foreign relations and international trade generally;

National Finance

12-7. (7) the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, to which may be referred matters relating to federal estimates generally, the public accounts and reports of the Auditor General, and government finance generally;

Transport and Communications

12-7. (8) the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, to which may be referred matters relating to transport and communications generally;

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

12-7. (9) the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, to which may be referred matters relating to legal and constitutional matters generally;

Banking, Commerce and the Economy

12-7. (10) the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, to which may be referred matters relating to banking, trade, commerce and the economy generally;

Social Affairs, Science and Technology

12-7. (11) the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, to which may be referred matters relating to social affairs, science and technology generally;

Agriculture and Forestry

12-7. (12) the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, to which may be referred matters relating to agriculture and forestry generally;

Fisheries and Oceans

12-7. (13) the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, to which may be referred matters relating to fisheries and oceans generally;

Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

12-7. (14) the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources, to which may be referred matters relating to energy, the environment, natural resources and climate change generally;

Indigenous Peoples

12-7. (15) the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, to which may be referred matters relating to the Indigenous peoples of Canada;

Human Rights

12-7. (16) the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, to which may be referred matters relating to human rights generally; and

National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs

12-7. (17) the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs, to which may be referred matters relating to national security, defence and veterans affairs generally.”;

2.by replacing rule 12-3(2)(e) by the following:

“(e) the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, nine Senators;”; and

3.by updating all cross references in the Rules, including the lists of exceptions, accordingly.

Your committee recommends that these amendments come into effect on July 31, 2022.

For greater certainty, under these proposed changes to the Rules, the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy; the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples (change in English only); and the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence will continue as the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs.

Respectfully submitted,