Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue No. 11 - Evidence - April 13, 2017
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 13, 2017
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:04 a.m., in public, pursuant to rule 12-7(1), for the consideration of financial and administrative matters; and in camera, pursuant to rule 12-7(1), for the consideration of financial and administrative matters.
Senator Leo Housakos (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Colleagues, we are back to business. Item 6 on the public session of the agenda is the adoption of minutes of proceedings of April 6, 2016, the public portion.
Moved by Senator Jaffer. Thank you. All in favour? Carried.
Item 7. Senator Tannas, you have the twelfth report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets.
Senator Tannas: At the last meeting, we agreed to activity 1 for Fisheries, which was to go to the North, to Iqaluit and so on. If you recall, they had three programs they were doing. The first was to go to the North; then they were going to the U.K., Norway and a bunch of places; and then they were hopefully going to New Zealand and Australia sometime in the fall.
We approved just one trip and then told them that once that was complete, we would consider — and perhaps bring before this group the next one.
In the organization of their trip up North — and we approved $165,526 for this trip up North — they became aware of the fact that the timing of going to the North was in May. That meant that many people would be out on the land, and that there would be witnesses who would be out and not available to testify to give their input. So it was recommended that they defer that trip until people are back in the communities.
What they would like to do and what we are recommending is that they go ahead with their second trip, which they have budgeted at $125,000 for the U.K. and Norway, and Ireland as well, I think. They have a trip that they provided us information on.
We're recommending that they swap. We would withdraw the approval for activity 1 to the North and we would agree to the activity, $125,000, for their trip to the United Kingdom, Norway, Ireland and Denmark. They plan to do that before the end of May.
So I'll make that motion.
The Chair: It is moved by Senator Tannas. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried. Thank you.
Item 8 is the Subcommittee on Diversity, extension of deadline.
Senator Jaffer: The subcommittee has been meeting, and we have taken on more work. We cannot finish the report before the end of June. The subcommittee, at the moment — Senator Marshall is the deputy chair and Senator Tannas and I are members. Senator Omidvar was a member, but I'm not sure what's happening now. At this point, we don't have another ISG member on our committee. We need two. I'm waiting to get the ISG members appointed.
I am asking if Internal would please give us an extension so we get the membership issues resolved. We still have more work to do.
The Chair: Senator Jaffer moves that motion.
Senator McCoy: — end of June instead of June 15?
Senator Jaffer: Yes.
Senator McCoy: "The game is afoot,'' if I can quote Sherlock Holmes, to give you a perfectly accredited Senator Omidvar, at least. We're asking for volunteers otherwise.
The Chair: Excellent. Motion is carried. Thank you very much, Senator Jaffer.
Item 10. Senator Cordy. Second report of the Subcommittee on Communications.
Senator Cordy: You've all read the materials in your document related to our report. I have the honour to present the second report of the Subcommittee on Communications, which deals with the publication of disclosure of senators' expenses.
The subcommittee has been looking at this model for disclosure of senators' expense reports for more than a year, and we've brought information to this committee. We also conducted consultations with all of the caucuses and groups, and the feedback was incorporated at various stages as we moved through this process.
In coming to its recommendations, the subcommittee was mindful of providing information that is clear, logical and easy to understand, not only to senators but to the public. After the launch of the proactive disclosure website, some questions arose about how some of the information is presented. In particular, the current model lists dates of travel in a way that could be clearer with respect to indicating when a senator is travelling to Ottawa for Senate sittings.
After discussion and reviewing mock-ups, the subcommittee concluded that the Senate should also display the start date week and the end date week of travel related to Senate sittings. This will be transparent and consistent with dates provided for other Senate travel.
I would like to note that specific dates are not displayed on the recommendation of security officials. The subcommittee did meet with Mike McDonald related to that. So it doesn't say that I travelled on Monday, April 10. It will say "week of.'' So if I come up on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, nobody knows when I've travelled, other than the week.
The subcommittee also reviewed the mock-ups highlighting the impact of the consolidation of budget for house officers. It should be noted that a clear note will advise the reader that senators assuming a house officer or facilitator role receive a consolidated budget due to their additional functions. All office spending is reported under the house officers/facilitator tab.
Honourable senators, I move the adoption of this report.
Senator Jaffer: It's not really specific to the adoption of the report — I support that — but I just want to say that — and I often say this, but both you, Senator Housakos and Senator Cordy, have done a tremendous job. I have to tell you, I was tearful this weekend when I saw the infographics. Those who have not seen them, the infographics that Communications did were over the top. I have used them, and I have so many good comments. I really want to recognize — if people haven't seen it, I have it here. It's just amazing. I want to say that, under the leadership of you both, I can't thank you enough. You've put us in another place.
Senator Cordy: It's a whole committee, and it's also the Communications department, under the direction of Mélisa Leclerc. They are doing a superlative job.
The Chair: Colleagues, I have a motion from Senator Cordy. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Item 10 is the members of the Subcommittee on Communications.
Senator Cordy: I move that the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Communications: The Honourable Senator Housakos, as chair; the Honourable Senator Cordy, as deputy chair; the Honourable Senator Batters; the Honourable Senator Jaffer; the Honourable Senator McCoy; the Honourable Senator Mitchell; and the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain.
The Chair: Colleagues, for confirmation, Senator Mitchell is not a voting member on the committee, but given the fact he's been an active member for a long time, he's requested to stay on. He's a valuable member, so he's on as a non- voting member. There's one more Conservative senator who needs to be appointed, and I'm going to consult with my colleagues to find somebody who is willing to put in the time and effort. Maybe Senator Tannas wants to add to his work; I don't know. We'll discuss that.
I have a motion. Everyone in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you, colleagues.
Item 11. As everyone knows here, technically the chair of Internal Economy is automatically the co-chair of JIC. In the last while, given the workload, I have moved aside and was replaced by Senators Tkachuk and Manning. Now I'm also stepping aside, and as I can't move a motion, maybe — it is moved by Senator Downe.
Senator Downe: I move that the Honourable Senator Plett replace the Honourable Senator Housakos as Senate co- chair of the Joint Interparliamentary Council, JIC; and that the Honourable Senator Housakos be removed from the Joint Interparliamentary Council and that a substitution will be pending.
The Chair: Colleagues, all in favour of that motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Any other items? Colleagues, we've had a very efficient 20 minutes. If there are no other items, this meeting is adjourned. Have a good Easter, everyone.
(The committee adjourned.)