Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 10, 2012
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 10, 2012
(21)
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 8:35 a.m., the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cordy, Dawson, Di Nino, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Marshall, Munson, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif, and Tkachuk (16).
In attendance: Mr. Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
IE/2012-05-10/153(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved, by Senator Cordy, that the minutes of proceedings of April 26, 2012, public portion, be adopted with the following amendment:
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cordy, Di Nino, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Manning, Marshall, Charette-Poulin, Smith (Saurel), Stratton, Tardif and Tkachuk. (13)
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-05-10/154(P) — Tour of the Government Conference Centre
The Chair informed the committee that a tour of the Government Conference Centre is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012.
IE/2012-05-10/155(P) — Seventeenth 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 Seventeenth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, May 10, 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
SEVENTEENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2012-2013:
National Security and Defence (East Coast and West Coast Navy and Air Force Bases)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,200 Transportation and Communications $ 111,332 All Other Expenditures $ 1,000 Total $ 113,532 (includes funds for fact-finding missions)
Official Languages (Use of Internet, New Media and Social Media)
Professional and Other Services $ 15,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 0 Total $ 15,000 The subcommittee noted the suggestion that it might be a good practice if a YouTube channel is activated, and that it be activated in the name of the Senate of Canada in both official languages in order to be consistent with the institutional approach being employed by the Senate Twitter feed. Such a channel would contribute in a positive way to the branding of the Senate. There was general agreement that having a Senate YouTube channel would be a good idea, and the chair of the Committee on Official Languages indicated that the committee would be happy to work with the Communications Directorate in this regard.
Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Seventeenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
Questions were asked regarding the use of YouTube, the cancellation of National Security and Defence Committee trips in 2011-12 and the re-establishment of the Advisory Working Group on Communications.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Official Languages Committee's video project be considered a pilot project, that it be made available for posting on YouTube, if appropriate, and that the results be reported to the Internal Economy Committee.
It was also agreed that, adoption of the budget for the National Security and Defence Committee be postponed until the Chair and Deputy Chair of the National Security and Defence Committee appear together before the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budget and International Travel to answer questions and the subcommittee reports to the Internal Economy Committee..
Further, it was agreed that the Director, Communications Directorate draft guidelines and parameters regarding the use of YouTube as an institutional channel and that a plan be developed to cover all institutional uses of social media by the Senate, with a governance structure that could include a subcommittee of senators for the purpose of consultation on communications issues.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-05-10/156(P) — Eighteenth 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 Eighteenth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, May 10, 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
EIGHTEENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee considered requests from the Honourable Senator Day and the Honourable Senator Cools for approval to use the 64-points system to attend the Bomber Command Memorial Dedication being held in London, United Kingdom, on June 28, 2012. Your subcommittee recommends that approval be granted for the Senators 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 $8,500 each.
If, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond a senator's control, the travel is cancelled, your subcommittee recommends that any cancellation penalty be charged to the senator's 64-points.
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 Eighteenth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed on division.
At 9:05 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 on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary