Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue No. 11 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 13, 2017
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 13, 2017
(34)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera this day at 8:04 a.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Campbell, Cordy, Downe, Dupuis, Housakos, Jaffer, Lankin, P.C., Marshall, Marwah, McCoy, Mitchell, Munson, Plett, Saint-Germain, Smith, Tannas and Wells (18).
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.
The committee met in camera, pursuant to rule 12-16(1).
At 10:11 a.m., the committee proceeded in public.
CIBA/2017-04-13/274(P)|211| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
The committee considered the minutes of proceedings of April 6, 2017, in public portion.
The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved:
That the minutes of proceedings of April 6, 2017, in public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-04-13/275(P)|295| — Twelfth Report of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets
The Chair of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, the Honourable Senator Tannas, presented the twelfth report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, April 13, 2017
The Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWELFTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amount for fiscal year 2017-2018:
Fisheries and Oceans (Maritime Search and Rescue activities)
Activity 2: United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway and Denmark $ 125,000 Total $ 125,000 (includes funds for a fact finding mission; includes funds for 5 senators to travel)
Respectfully submitted,
SCOTT TANNAS
Chair
The Honourable Senator Tannas made a statement and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Tannas moved:
That the report be adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-04-13/276(P)|365| — Subcommittee on Diversity: Extension of Deadline
The Honourable Senator Jaffer moved:
That, notwithstanding the motion of the committee adopted on Thursday, February 2, 2017, the date for the final report of the Subcommittee on Diversity in relation to its review of the findings contained in the Fifth Report of the Senate Administration's Advisory Committee on Diversity and Accessibility be extended from April 30, 2017 to June 30, 2017.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-04-13/277(P)|217| — Second Report of the Subcommittee on Senate Communications
The Deputy Chair of the Subcommittee on Senate Communications, the Honourable Senator Cordy, presented the second report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, April 13, 2017
The Subcommittee on Senate Communications of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your subcommittee, which was authorized by the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration on Thursday, June 18 and again on Thursday, December 10, 2015 to examine the recommendations contained in the report of the Auditor General of Canada relating to the disclosure of information by senators (recommendations 96, 97, 105 and 106) and to outline how the recommendations contained in the report can be implemented, now presents its Second Report.
House Officer and ISG Facilitator budgets:
Your subcommittee reviewed new models for Senators' Expenditure Reports for House Officers and the Independent Senator Group Facilitator. In the new model, which would come into effect as of April 1, 2017, the budget of the House Officers and the budget of the Independent Senator Group Facilitator will be consolidated with their Senator office budget (and where applicable with the Caucus budget). For senators who are also House Officers or the Facilitator, the "Living Expenses'' and "Travel Expenses'' under the travel point system will continue to appear under the Senators tab, and all other expenses and contract(s) will be disclosed under the Senate House Officers and Facilitator tab.
Your subcommittee recommends the approval of the new model for Senators' Expenditure Reports that consolidates the budgets of House Officers and the ISG Facilitator with their respective Senators' office budget.
Reporting Dates of Travel by Week:
Your subcommittee reviewed the display of dates of travel in the "Travel Expenses'' tab, which currently does not provide the dates of travel for Senate sittings, but does provide the week of travel for any other type of Senate travel. Your subcommittee believes that reporting the dates of travel by week for all travel would enhance the current proactive disclosure model for Senators' Expenditure Reports.
Your subcommittee recommends that the "Start Week of'' and "End Week of'' for all types of travel be provided.
The subcommittee's proposed changes to the model for enhancing the Senators' Expenditure Reports are attached as an appendix to this report.
Respectfully submitted,
JANE CORDY
Deputy Chair
The Honourable Senator Cordy made a statement and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the report be adopted.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-04-13/278(P)|217| — Membership of the Subcommittee on Senate Communications
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Senate Communications:
The Honourable Senator Housakos (Chair);
The Honourable Senator Cordy (Deputy Chair);
The Honourable Senator Batters;
The Honourable Senator Jaffer;
The Honourable Senator McCoy;
The Honourable Senator Mitchell as a non-voting member; and
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-04-13/279(P)|233| — Joint Interparliamentary Council (JIC) Membership
The Honourable Senator Downe moved:
That the Honourable Senator Plett replace the Honourable Senator Housakos as the Senate Co-Chair on the Joint Interparliamentary Council (JIC); and
That the Honourable Senator Housakos be removed from the Joint Interparliamentary Council and a substitution will be pending.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:20 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