Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue No. 3 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 12, 2016
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 12, 2016
(12)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 9:03 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Cordy, Downe, Doyle, Housakos, Jaffer, Lang, Manning, Marshall, Martin, Munson, Smith (Saurel), Tannas, Tkachuk and Wallace (15).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Lankin, P.C., McCoy and Mitchell (3).
Also in attendance: Nicole Proulx, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Michel Patrice, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel and Chief, Parliamentary Precinct Services; and other senior Senate officials.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
International and Interparliamentary Affairs, Senate of Canada:
Colette Labrecque-Riel, Acting Clerk Assistant and Director General;
Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol.
CIBA/2016-05-12/107(P)|211| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
The committee considered the minutes of proceedings of April 21, 2016, in public portion, and May 5, 2016.
It was moved by Senator Tkachuk that the minutes of proceedings of April 21, 2016, in public portion, and May 5, 2016, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2016-05-12/108(P)|233| — Joint Interparliamentary Council (JIC) Funding
Colette Labrecque-Riel, Acting Clerk Assistant and Director General and Gérald Lafrenière, Principal Clerk, Parliamentary Exchanges and Protocol, International and Interparliamentary Affairs, provided context regarding a budgetary issue with the Joint Interparliamentary Council (JIC), whereby requests for funding of parliamentary associations' activities this fiscal year are forecast to be in excess of funds available. Accordingly, JIC is seeking to temporarily over-allocate its budget to fund parliamentary association activities by an amount of $122,000 (rounded); and if, during this fiscal year, it is determined the JIC will end up in a deficit situation, the costs of the shortfall be offset from surpluses elsewhere to the maximum amount of $36,600, which is reflective of the usual 30/70 JIC cost-sharing formula.
After debate, it was moved by Senator Jaffer:
That the JIC be authorized to over-allocate budget funds for parliamentary association activities this fiscal year by an amount of $121,310; and
That if during this fiscal year it is determined the JIC will end in a deficit situation, the costs of the shortfall be offset from surpluses elsewhere to the maximum amount of $36,393, which is reflective of the usual 30/70 cost-sharing formula of JIC.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
CIBA/2016-05-12/109(P)|190| — Third Report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets
Senator Tannas, chair of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, presented the third report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, May 12, 2016
The Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRD REPORT (Committee Budgets)
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2016-2017:
Human Rights (Special study on Syrian Refugees)
Activity 1: Toronto and Montreal $54,794
Total $54,794
(includes funds for public hearings and a fact finding mission; includes funds for 9 senators to travel)
Official Languages (Special study on French language schools and French immersion programs in British Columbia)
Activity 1: British Columbia $123,328
Total $123,328
(includes funds for public hearings and a fact finding mission; includes funds for 9 senators to travel)
Scrutiny of Regulations (Joint)
General Expenses $3,540
Total $3,540
Your subcommittee has reviewed the budget process that is normally used by standing or special committees and recommends that expenditures for working meals and witness expenses of the joint committees also be funded from the central budget that is administered by the Principal Clerk, Committees.
Based on the historical expenditures by the joint committees, no increase to the total envelope for committees is required, as the total expenses for joint committees is quite modest. The billing arrangement with the House of Commons and the reporting requirements of the joint committee would remain unchanged.
Your subcommittee also considered a request from the Agriculture and Forestry committee to include a communications officer in the place of a cancelled participant on their trip to Calgary. After reviewing the committee's communications plan, your subcommittee recommends that this request be approved, provided that the expenses are within the budget amount previously approved by this committee on Thursday, March 24, 2016.
Your subcommittee also undertakes to bring forward any further requests of this nature to this committee.
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT TANNAS
Chair
After debate, it was moved by Senator Tannas that the third report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2016-05-12/110(P)|338| — Establishment of an Advisory Working Group on the Review of Policies and Rules
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
CIBA/2016-05-12/111(P)|295| — Senators' Staff Travel with Committees
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
CIBA/2016-05-12/112(P)|211| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
The committee considered the minutes of proceedings of April 21, 2016, in camera portion.
It was moved by Senator Manning that the minutes of proceedings of April 21, 2016, in camera portion, as amended to correct a spelling error, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:42 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Nicole Proulx
Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Jodi Turner
Recording Secretary