Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 11, 2014
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 11, 2014
(29)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 8:30 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Cordy, Downe, Doyle, Furey, Lang, Manning, Marshall, Munson, Nolin, Smith (Saurel), Tkachuk, Wells, White (14).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Dawson and McInnis (2).
In attendance: Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
International and Interparliamentary Affairs:
Eric Janse, Clerk Assistant and Director General;
Gérald Lafrenière, Deputy Principal Clerk; and
Patrice Martin, Deputy Principal Clerk.
CIBA/2014-12-11/155(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved by Senator Cordy that the Minutes of Proceedings of December 4, 2014 be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2014-12-11/156(P) — Eleventh Report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets
The chair of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, the Honourable Larry Smith (Saurel), presented the Eleventh Report of the Subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, December 4, 2014
The Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
ELEVENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2014-2015:
Banking, Trade and Commerce (Digital Currency)
Activity 1: New York, New York $ 78,834 Total $ 78,834 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 12 senators to travel)
Fisheries and Oceans (Aquaculture)
Activity 4: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador $ 90,325 Total $ 90,325 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 12 senators to travel)
Transport and Communications (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Activity 4: London, United Kingdom $ 89,100 Total $ 89,100 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 5 senators to travel)
Respectfully submitted,
LARRY SMITH
Chair
It was moved by Senator Smith (Saurel) that the Eleventh Report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2014-12-11/157(P) — Subcommittee on the Senate Estimates
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Nolin,
That the Advisory Working Group on the Senate Estimates, created by the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration on October 2, 2014 and given an expanded mandate on November 6, 2014, be reconstituted as the Subcommittee on the Senate Estimates;
That the subcommittee be comprised of the Honourable Senators Wells, Smith (Saurel), Cordy, and Furey, three of whom shall constitute a quorum, and that the Honourable Senator Tannas be a non-voting participant;
That, pursuant to rule 12-9(2), the committee's authority to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to publish from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to rule 12-17, the committee's authority to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of estimates, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority to commit funds be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority for certifying accounts payable be conferred on to the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority, pursuant to paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the authority of the committee to reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for witnesses, be conferred on the subcommittee.
After debate, it was agreed that the motion be adopted.
CIBA/2014-12-11/158(P) — Canada's Participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
Eric Janse, Gérald Lafrenière and Patrice Martin presented additional information regarding Canada's participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and answered questions.
It was moved that Option 2 be adopted as follows:
Option 2 — Provide the JIC authority to over-allocate funds
As the JIC, the IPU and all parliamentary associations, continue to work on decreasing membership fees, the JIC will be authorized to temporarily over-allocate its budget to fund IPU activities.
In doing so, if during the fiscal year it is determined the JIC will end in a deficit situation, the costs of such a shortfall will be offset from surpluses elsewhere, for example from the Parliamentary Exchanges' budget, from the activities budget of committees or from other areas as would be recommended by staff.
This will be done using the usual cost-sharing formula seeing the Senate pay 30 per cent and the House of Commons 70 per cent. This will also allow expenses to be covered without permanently increasing the JIC envelope.
The maximum amount that the JIC will be allowed to over-allocate will be $550,000 (some $400,000 for membership fees for the IPU and some $150,000 for its activities).
Discussions will be undertaken between stakeholders in order to operationalize the temporary transfer.
After debate, Option 2 was adopted on division.
At 9:05 a.m., the committee continued in camera.
At 10:05 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 Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary