Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 29, 2012
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 29, 2012
(18)
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 9:34 a.m., the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Carignan, Comeau, Dawson, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Marshall, Munson, Patterson;, Charette-Poulin, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, and Tkachuk (15).
In attendance: Mr. Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
IE/2012-03-29/133(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved, by Senator Campbell, that the minutes of proceedings of March 15, 2012, public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-03-29/134(P) — Twelfth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel
The Chair of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel, Senator Comeau, presented the Twelfth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWELFTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2012-2013:
Agriculture and Forestry (Agriculture Sector)
Professional and Other Services $ 2,000 Transportation and Communications $ 229,090 All Other Expenditures $ 6,600 Total $ 237,690 (includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Banking, Trade and Commerce (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 0 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 7,300 Total $ 7,300 Conflict of Interest for Senators
Professional and Other Services $ 50,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 7,300 Total $ 50,000 (includes funds for sole source for professional services)
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
(Energy Sector)
Professional and Other Services $ 82,021 Transportation and Communications $ 68,802 All Other Expenditures $ 11,000 Total $ 161,823 (includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Fisheries and Oceans (Lobster Fishery)
Professional and Other Services $ 8,000 Transportation and Communications $ 82,359 All Other Expenditures $ 31,050 Total 121,409 (includes funds for public hearings and fact-finding missions)
Human Rights (Off-Reserve Aboriginal Peoples)
Professional and Other Services $ 7,000 Transportation and Communications $ 103,224 All Other Expenditures $ 18,950 Total $ 129,174 (includes funds for fact-finding missions and public hearings
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 22,500 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 5,000 Total $ 27,500 National Finance (Cross Border Shopping)
Professional and Other Services $ 16,100 Transportation and Communications $ 32,354 All Other Expenditures $ 1,250 Total $ 49,704 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
National Security and Defence (Defence and Security Relationships with the United States)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,000 Transportation and Communications $ 35,517 All Other Expenditures $ 500 Total $ 37,017 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
National Security and Defence (Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,800 Transportation and Communications $ 20,465 All Other Expenditures $ 1,100 Total $ 23,365 (includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Scrutiny of Regulations (Joint)
Professional and Other Services $ 900 Transportation and Communications $ 750 All Other Expenditures $ 1,350 Total $ 3,000 Social Affairs, Science and Technology (10-Year Plan)
Professional and Other Services $ 6,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $15,500 Total $21,500 Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Social Inclusion and Cohesion)
Professional and Other Services $ 17,100 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 10,500 Total $ 27,600 Total Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Prescription Pharmaceuticals)
Professional and Other Services $ 34,200 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 21,000 Total $ 55,200 Transport and Communications (Airline Industry)
Professional and Other Services $ 7,200 Transportation and Communications $ 20,476 All Other Expenditures $ 16,500 Total $ 44,176 (includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Your subcommittee notes that a number of committees indicated in their budget applications sole source for professional services. However, unless a specific exemption is indicated above, the amounts requested fall below the threshold set by the Senate Procurement Policy which would require approval of the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Your subcommittee wishes to recognize the efforts of committees to reduce expenditures. Since airline fares are such a large part of committee travel budget applications, it wishes to acknowledge those committees that have agreed to travel on economy fare tickets, even though the Senate Administrative Rules permit business class travel for senators. Your subcommittee would like to encourage all committees to give serious consideration to travelling economy fare, especially for shorter flights.
Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Twelfth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
The questions being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
It was also agreed that the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be mandated to review the template for committee budgets.
IE/2012-03-29/135(P) — Thirteenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel
The Chair of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel, Senator Comeau, presented the Thirteenth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRTEENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends that the total cost of airfare to be reimbursed for any international travel under the 64-point system be less than $10,000.
Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Thirteenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
The questions being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-03-29/136(P) — Fourteenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel
The Chair of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel, Senator Comeau, presented the Fourteenth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FOURTEENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee considered a request from the Honourable Senator Kenny for approval to use the 64- points system to attend the Trilateral Commission Plenary Meeting being held in Tokyo, Japan, from April 18 to 23, 2012. Your subcommittee recommends that approval be granted for the Senator to use the 64-point travel system to cover the cost of airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, meals and incidentals in an amount not expected to exceed $11,000. Your subcommittee recommends that the total cost of airfare to be reimbursed be less than $10,000.
Your subcommittee would like to remind senators that, pursuant to the decision of the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration dated May 7, 2009, "a senator must, within 30 days of completion of the international travel, submit a detailed report to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration including the objectives of the travel, meetings held, achievements, costs and next steps; this report shall be tabled in the Senate as an appendix to a report of the Committee."
Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Fourteenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Steering Committee further examine this request and make a final decision.
At 10:13 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
At 10:16 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gary W. O'Brien
Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Standing Senate Committee onInternal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary