Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue No. 1 - Evidence - December 10, 2015
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 10, 2015
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 6:30 p.m., to hold an organization meeting, pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate.
[Translation]
Charles Robert, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum. As the clerk of the committee, I have a duty to preside over the election of the chair.
[English]
I am ready to receive a motion for the election of the chair of this committee. Are there any nominations?
Senator Tkachuk: I will nominate Leo Housakos.
Mr. Robert: Are there other nominations?
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk that the Honourable Senator Housakos be chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt this motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Robert: I declare the motion carried, and in accordance with rule 12-13, the Honourable Senator Housakos is elected chair of this committee.
Senator Leo Housakos (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: The second order of business is to elect a deputy chair.
Senator Munson: Chair, I wish to nominate at this time Senator Cordy as deputy chair.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Munson that the Honourable Senator Cordy do take the deputy chair's position. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
We need a motion on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure (steering committee) be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and the Honourable Senator Wells; and
That pursuant to rule 12-12(3) of the Rules of the Senate, that the quorum be three members, including the chair and the deputy chair, and that the opposition whip be authorized to designate for substitution, from time to time, the third member with a member from the main committee on the subcommittee;
That the clerk be informed of any such substitution in writing;
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda and schedule meetings;
That if the full committee is unable to meet, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure (steering committee) be authorized to deal with and resolve immediate administrative problems, and that it report its decisions at the first meeting thereafter.
Will somebody move that motion?
Senator Tkachuk: So moved.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Tkachuk. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Next is the Subcommittee on Senate Communications:
That the Subcommittee on Senate Communications be established and that the following senators be named as members: The Honourable Senators Housakos (Chair), Wells, Cordy, Batters and that the Honourable Senator Mitchell be a non-voting participant;
That the mandate of the Subcommittee on Senate Communications will be to advise the Senate on communications strategy and implementation;
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 Subcommittee on Senate Communications will report to the Internal Economy Committee;
That the Subcommittee on Senate Communications be authorized to examine the recommendations contained in the report of the Auditor General of Canada on senators' expenses, tabled in the Senate on June 9, 2015, relating to the disclosure of information by the senators (recommendations 96, 97, 105 and 106); and
That the subcommittee examine how the recommendations contained in the report can be implemented.
Will somebody move that motion?
Senator Tkachuk: I so move.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Tkachuk. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Next is a motion to publish the committee's proceedings.
Senator Batters: I so move.
The Chair: It is moved by Senator Batters that the committee publish its proceedings.
Authorization to hold meetings and to receive evidence when quorum is not present:
That, pursuant to rule 12-17, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the opposition and the Senate Liberals be present.
Will somebody move that motion?
Senator Marshall: I so move.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Marshall. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Broadcasting:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure (steering committee) be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
Senator Doyle: I so move.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Doyle. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Staff attending in camera meetings:
That the following political staff be authorized to be present during in camera meetings of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration:
- a political staff member of the three senators on the Internal Economy steering committee; and
- a political staff member of the opposition caucus and of the Senate Liberal caucus.
Will somebody move that motion?
Senator Marshall: I so move.
The Chair: Moved by Senator Marshall. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Is there any other business, ladies and gentlemen? If not, the committee is adjourned.
(The committee adjourned.)