Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue No. 10 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 30, 2017
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 30, 2017
(32)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:06 a.m., in room 160- S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Downe, Dupuis, Housakos, Jaffer, Lankin, P.C., Marshall, Marwah, McCoy, Mitchell, Munson, Saint-Germain, Smith, Tannas, Tkachuk and Wells (16).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C. (1).
Also in attendance: Nicole Proulx, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and Chief Corporate Services Officer; Charles Robert, Clerk of the Senate and Chief Legislative Officer; 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.
Pursuant to rule 12-7(1) of the Rules of the Senate, the committee continued its consideration of financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate's internal administration.
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator David M. Wells; Senator;
The Honourable Senator Serge Joyal, P.C. Senator.
CIBA/2017-03-30/254(P)|211| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
The committee considered the minutes of proceedings of March 9, 2017, in public portion.
The Honourable Senator Wells moved:
That the minutes of proceedings of March 9, 2017, in public portion, be adopted.
The Honourable Senator Batters moved:
That the minutes of proceedings of March 9, 2017 be amended on Page 2 by adding after the words "The debate concluded'' the following:
"and the committee determined not to take further action''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The question was put on the motion, as amended, of the Honourable Senator Wells:
That the amended minutes of proceedings of March 9, 2017, in public portion, be adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion as amended, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-03-30/255(P)|185| — Guidelines on the Purpose of Hospitality
The committee resumed debate on proposed guidelines for the purpose of hospitality claims by senators.
The Honourable Senator Wells moved:
That the guidelines for hospitality claims by senators be adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-03-30/256(P) — Advisory Working Group: 150th Commemorative Medals
The Co-chairs of the Advisory Working Group on a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, the Honourable Senators Wells and Joyal, P.C., presented the first report of the advisory working group as follows:
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
The Advisory Working Group on a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
On March 2, 2017, your advisory working group was given the following mandate:
That the Advisory Working Group on a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal be established;
That the membership of the working group be as follows: the Honourable Senators Joyal (Co-Chair), Wells (Co-Chair), Bovey and Unger;
That three members shall constitute a quorum;
That the working group be authorized to examine and make recommendations for the production of a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, including the following elements:
- Cost
- Design
- Quantity
- Schedule
- Other considerations as required for the implementation of the program;
That the working group report to the committee no later than March 31, 2017.
Your advisory working group has met to discuss the possibility of the Senate striking a commemorative medal to mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.
During the course of these meetings, there was consensus among the members that a Senate table medal (medal) would be well received and would provide Senators with an opportunity to recognize recipients in their community who have made meaningful contributions to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community, or have made an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Christopher McCreery, an expert on the Canadian honours system, was present at the first meeting of your advisory working group. Mr. McCreery provided the members with information and advice on the creation of a program as well as a draft design of a medal created by LCol Carl Gauthier. The medal has been designed in such a way that it can be used beyond the sesquicentennial. A copy of this design is appended to this report.
You advisory group makes the following recommendations:
That a Senate of Canada Sesquicentennial Medal be created.
That an initial run of 5,000 medals be struck.
That your advisory working group explore how the medal can be used by the Speaker and individual Senators in the years following the sesquicentennial.
That your advisory working group continue to work with the Royal Canadian Mint for the production of the medals.
That the draft design (appended) be approved in principle, with minor changes as directed by your advisory working group.
That your advisory working group continue to meet to further the development of the medal and the administration of the program (draft program appended).
That a Senate of Canada Sesquicentennial Advisory Committee be appointed to meet as necessary to review nominations.
That the nominations be vetted by the Advisory Committee according to established criteria.
That the Clerk of the Senate serve as Secretary of the Committee and be responsible for the administration of the program.
That your advisory working group regularly report back to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration on the progress of the program.
Your advisory working group is mindful that a project of this scope requires both funding, lead-time and preparation in order to properly launch and administer a medal program. In order to proceed, your advisory working group recommends approval for a budget in the amount of $558,750. This budget is appended to this report, with certain costs to be confirmed and with future adjustments, and includes funds for the medals, presentation cases, certificates and administration of the program.
Respectfully submitted,
David Wells, Serge Joyal, P.C.
The Honourable Senator Wells made a statement and, together with the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C., answered questions.
At 8:48 a.m., the Honourable Senator Tkachuk took the chair.
At 8:56 a.m., the chair, the Honourable Senator Housakos, returned.
The Honourable Senator Wells moved:
That the report be adopted.
The Honourable Senator Marwah moved:
That the first report of the Advisory Working Group on a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal be not now adopted, but that it be amended by adding the following:
"That medals given by individual senators be charged to that senator's Research and Office Expense Budget''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That the first report of the Advisory Working Group on a Senate 150th Anniversary Commemorative Medal be not now adopted, but that it be amended by replacing "5,000 medals be struck'' with "500 medals be struck''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, of the Honourable Senator Wells:
That the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Batters, Housakos, Jaffer, McCoy, Mitchell, Wells — 6
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Downe, Marshall, Marwah, Saint-Germain, Tannas,
Tkachuk — 6
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senators
Dupuis, Munson, Smith — 3
At 9:18 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1), the committee proceeded in camera.
At 9:59 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
Daniel Charbonneau
Recording Secretary