Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 21, 2012
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 21, 2012
(27)
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 8:30 a.m., the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Charette-Poulin, Comeau, Cordy, Di Nino, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Marshall, Munson, Seidman, Smith (Saurel), Stewart Olsen, Stratton and Tkachuk (15).
Other senators in attendance: The Honourable Senators Dawson and Fraser (2).
In attendance: Mr. Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
IE/2012-06-21/180(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved, by Senator Campbell, that the minutes of proceedings of June 14, 2012, public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-06-21/181(P) — Nineteenth 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 Nineteenth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, June 21, 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
NINETEENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee considered a request from the Honourable Senator Campbell for approval to use the 64- points system to attend the City Health 2012 Conference being held in London, England, on October 22 and 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 $ 6,200.
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 Nineteenth 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/2012-06-21/182(P) — Twentieth 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 Twentieth Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, June 21, 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
TWENTIETH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2012-2013:
Aboriginal Peoples (Metis in Canada)
Professional and Other Services $ 750 Transportation and Communications $ 36,307 All Other Expenditures $ 1,200 Total $ 38,257 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission)
Transport and Communications (Airline Industry)
Professional and Other Services $ 200 Transportation and Communications $ 202,931 All Other Expenditures $ 5,600 Total $ 208,731 Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Twentieth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-06-21/181(P) — Twenty-first 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 Twenty-first Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, June 21, 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 table its
TWENTY-FIRST REPORT
On May 10, 2012, the Subcommittee presented its seventeenth report recommending the release of funds for two committees, including $113,532 for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence to conduct fact finding missions to East Coast and West Coast Navy and Air Force Bases.
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration chose to defer the decision on the funds for the National Security and Defence Committee and requested that the Subcommittee inquire into the reasons for the cancellation of similar trips planned in fiscal year 2011-2012.
Your Subcommittee met with the chair and deputy chair of the National Security and Defence Committee on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. The Subcommittee was informed that the Committee's West Coast trip was cancelled at the last minute due to the conflicting schedules of senators and competing priorities related to the Senate sitting. The East Coast trip was also cancelled because it was not possible to find a mutually convenient time for the trip prior to the end of the fiscal year. The chair and deputy chair noted a lack of adequate consultation and communication between steering committee members and the whips.
Costs were incurred to cancel both trips, including travel booking fees, as well as airfare and hotel cancellation fees. However, your Subcommittee was informed that the Committee has been able to use airline credits for its recent approved trip to Washington and would be able to use other credits should this budget request be adopted.
Your Subcommittee notes that the National Security and Defence Committee chair and deputy chair deeply regret the expenses incurred for the cancellation of these trips and the inconvenience caused to the Canadian forces who had undertaken preparations to receive the Committee. The chair and deputy chair also indicated that the steering committee has resolved to collaborate more effectively with each other and with the whips in the planning of its travel, and to prevent a similar situation from arising.
Your Subcommittee believes that the proposed visits to the East Coast and West Coast Navy and Air Force Bases are essential to the important work being done and already accomplished by this Committee, which has a long history of examining issues faced by our Canadian forces.
Your Subcommittee trusts that this report will assist the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration in its decision on the Subcommittee's seventeenth report.
Respectfully submitted,
It was moved by Senator Comeau that the Twenty-First Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and International Travel be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-06-21/182(P) — 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region — October 2014
After discussion, it was agreed:
That approval be granted to host the 11th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region in Yellowknife or Whitehorse in October 2014;
That temporary funding of $50,000 for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $235,309 for fiscal year 2014-2015 for a total of $285,309, which will be shared using the usual formula (30 per cent Senate, 70 per cent House of Commons) between the Senate ($85,593) and the House of Commons ($199,716); and
That any unspent approved budget from fiscal year 2013-2014 can be paid in fiscal year 2014-2015 and, if needed, any additional funding will be requested, provided that the total approved budget is not exceeded.
IE/2012-06-21/183(P) — 40th Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) — July 2014
After discussion, it was agreed:
That approval be granted to host the 40th Annual Session of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) in Ottawa in July 2014;
That temporary funding of $60,000 be approved for 2013-2014 and of $315,000 for 2014-2015, for a total of $375,000, and that said funding be split in the usual manner (30 per cent from the Senate, 70 per cent from the House of Commons) between the Senate ($112,500) and the House of Commons ($262,500); and
That any unspent approved budget from fiscal year 2013-2014 can be paid in fiscal year 2014-2015 and, if needed, any additional funding will be requested, provided that the total approved budget is not exceeded.
IE/2012-06-21/184(P) — Review of Newspapers in the Senate Reading Room
Bonnie Marga, Comptroller, presented a briefing note with a proposal to reduce the number of newspapers in the Senate Reading Room.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Chair and Deputy Chair discuss this matter with their respective caucuses and that this item be further discussed at the next meeting.
At 9:23 a.m., the committee continued in camera.
At 9:59 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