Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its

TWENTY-NINTH REPORT

Your committee has the mandate to consider all matters of a financial or administrative nature relating to the internal management of the Senate. In fulfilling its mandate, your committee conducts the majority of its business in public and it now televises its meetings. Your committee is required, from time to time, to deal with sensitive matters. On those issues, it meets in camera.

According to Rule 12-16. (1) of the Rules of the Senate, all committees of the Senate are authorized to discuss items in camera which deal with one of the following:

(a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits;

(b) contracts and contract negotiations;

(c) labour relations and personnel matters; and

(d) a draft agenda or draft report.

This rule does not explicitly outline all situations which are applicable to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, such as security matters and litigation.

Your committee recommends that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament examine the possibility of amending the Rules of the Senate to expressly give the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration the necessary discretion to meet in camera when required. Any proposed amendment should balance the occasional need to conduct certain proceedings in private with the need to respect the highest standards of openness, accountability, and transparency.

Respectfully submitted,