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RIDR - Standing Committee

Human Rights

Report of the committee

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016, to study the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(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,

JIM MUNSON

Chair

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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, December 15, 2016:

The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be authorized to examine and report issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, with emphasis on the federal system, and with reference to both national and international law and standards, as well as to examine the situation of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in federal prisons, including indigenous people, visible minorities, women and those with mental health concerns;

That the committee submit its final report no later than October 31, 2017, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

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

Charles Robert

Clerk of the Senate

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, October 19, 2017:

The Honourable Senator Munson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Tardif:

That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, December 15, 2016, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights in relation to its study on prisoners in the correctional system be extended from October 31, 2017 to October 31, 2018.

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

Nicole Proulx

Clerk of the Senate

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SUMMARY OF BUDGET

Activity 1:
Travel to Kitchener, Ontario

$56,434
Activity 2:
Travel to Edmonton, Alberta

$74,141
Activity 3:
Travel to the Maritimes (Renous and Dorchester, NB/Springhill and Truro, NS)

$91,168










TOTAL

$221,743

The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.












Date
Président du Comité sénatorial permanent des droits de la personne
JIM MUNSON
Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights











Date
Président du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration
LEO HOUSAKOS
Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

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HISTORICAL INFORMATION

GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SPECIAL STUDY

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(2) of the Senate Administrative Rules.

Approved expenses for fiscal year 2017-18: $71,250

Projected new expenses for fiscal year 2017-2018: $221,683

Estimate of the total cost of the special study: $292,933

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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Study on the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018

ACTIVITY 1: Travel to Kitchener, ON



Public hearings and Fact-finding







19 participants: 9 Senators, 10 staff



(1 clerk, 1 administrative assistant, 2 analysts, 1 communications officer, 3 interpreters, 1 chair staff, 1 deputy chair staff)







PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES










OTHER



1.Reporting/transcribing (0403)3,300




(1 reporter, 1 day, $3,300/day)



2.Transcript editing services (0143)3,000


Sub-total
$6,300








TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES








1.Transportation - air29,500




9 senators x $2,000 (0224)





10 staff x $1,150 (0227)



2.Hotel accommodation4,750




9 senators, $250/night, 1 night (0222)





10 staff, $250/night, 1 night (0226)



3.Per diem3,914




9 senators, $103/day, 2 days (0221)





10 staff, $103/day, 2 days (0225)



4.Working meals (travel) (0231)2,000


5.Taxis3,420




9 senators x $180 (0223)





10 staff x $180 (0232)



6.Charter bus (0228)1,000




(1 day, $1,000/day)



Sub-total
$44,584








ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES










OTHER



1.Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)500










PRINTING



2.Printing (0321)50










RENTALS



3.Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540)1,500




(1 day, $1,500/day)



4.Rental - interpretation equipment (0504)3,500




(1 day, $3,500/day)



Sub-total
$5,550








Total of Activity 1
$56,434







ACTIVITY 2: Travel to Edmonton, AB



Public hearings and Fact-finding



19 participants: 9 Senators, 10 staff



(1 clerk, 1 administrative assistant, 2 analysts, 1 communications officer, 3 interpreters, 1 chair staff, 1 deputy chair staff)







PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES

















OTHER



1.Reporting/transcribing (0403)3,300




(1 reporter, 1 day, $3,300/day)



2.Transcript editing services (0143)3,000


Sub-total
$6,300








TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES








1.Transportation - air37,500




9 senators x $2,500 (0224)





10 staff x $1,500 (0227)



2.Hotel accommodation9,500




9 senators, $250/night, 2 nights (0222)





10 staff, $250/night, 2 nights (0226)



3.Per diem5,871




9 senators, $103/day, 3 days (0221)





10 staff, $103/day, 3 days (0225)



4.Working meals (travel) (0231)3,000


5.Taxis3,420




9 senators x $180 (0223)





10 staff x $180 (0232)



6.Charter bus (0228)3,000




(2 days, $1,500/day)



Sub-total
$62,291








ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES










OTHER



1.Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)500










PRINTING



2.Printing (0321)50










RENTALS



3.Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540)1,500




(1 day, $1,500/day)



4.Rental - interpretation equipment (0504)3,500




(1 day, $3,500/day)



Sub-total
$5,550








Total of Activity 2
$74,141














ACTIVITY 3: Travel to the Maritimes (Renous and Dorchester, NB/Springhill and Truro, NS)



Public hearings and Fact-finding



19 participants: 9 Senators, 10 staff



(1 clerk, 1 administrative assistant, 2 analysts, 1 communications officer, 3 interpreters, 1 chair staff, 1 deputy chair staff)







PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES










OTHER



1.Reporting/transcribing (0403)4,620




(1 reporter, 1 day, $4,620/day)



2.Transcript editing services (0143)4,300


Sub-total
$8,920








TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES








1.Transportation - air40,200




9 senators x $2,800 (0224)





10 staff x $1,500 (0227)



2.Hotel accommodation14,250




9 senators, $250/night, 3 nights (0222)





10 staff, $250/night, 3 nights (0226)



3.Per diem7,828




9 senators, $103/day, 4 days (0221)





10 staff, $103/day, 4 days (0225)



4.Working meals (travel) (0231)4,000


5.Taxis3,420




9 senators x $180 (0223)





10 staff x $180 (0232)



6.Charter bus (0228)7,000




(4 days, $1,750/day)



Sub-total
$76,698








ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES










OTHER



1.Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)500










PRINTING



2.Printing (0321)50










RENTALS



3.Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540)1,500




(1 day, $1,500/day)



4.Rental - interpretation equipment (0504)3,500




(1 day, $3,500/day)



Sub-total
$5,550








Total of Activity 3
$91,168







Grand Total

$ 221,683

The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.












Date
Blair Armitage, Principal Clerk,
Committees Directorate











Date
Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller,
Finance and Procurement Directorate

APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, for the purpose of its special study on issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, December 15, 2016. The approved budget is as follows:

Activity 1:
Travel to Kitchener, Ontario

$52,862
Activity 2:
Travel to Edmonton, Alberta

$
Activity 3:
Travel to the Maritimes (Renous and Dorchester, New Brunswick/Springhill and Truro, Nova Scotia)

$85,484
TOTAL

$138,346

(includes funds for public hearings and fact-finding missions; includes funds for 9 senators to travel; decision on Activity 2 deferred)

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 reported to the Senate;

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Any surplus 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,

LEO HOUSAKOS

Chair


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