Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Minutes of Proceedings - December 7, 2017 (in public and in camera)
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 7, 2017
(48)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:32 a.m., in room 160- S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Larry W. Campbell, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Campbell, Carignan, P.C., Dawson, Forest, Frum, McCoy, Mitchell, Moncion, Munson, Plett, Saint-Germain, Tannas, Tkachuk, Verner, P.C. and Woo (16).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator McPhedran (1).
Also in attendance: Pascale Legault, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Nicole Proulx, Interim Clerk of the Senate; Jacqueline Kuehl, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; 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:
Senate of Canada:
The Honourable Senator Marilou McPhedran, Senator.
As individuals:
Shania Pruden (by video conference);
Ariel Melamedoff (by video conference).
CIBA/2017-12-07/369(P)|214| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
The committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday, November 30, 2017, in public portion.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
That the Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday, November 30, 2017, public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-12-07/370(P)|331| — Senator McPhedran: Appeal of Decision from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure — Winnipeg Travel Claim
The committee considered an appeal by the Honourable Senator McPhedran to overturn a decision from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure with regard to a travel claim for travel between Winnipeg and Ottawa on May 4 and 5, 2017.
It was agreed that the background material related to the appeal by the Honourable Senator McPhedran and distributed to the committee be filed as an exhibit with the clerk of the committee.
The Honourable Senator McPhedran, Ariel Melamedoff and Shania Pruden made statements. Mr. Melamedoff and Ms. Pruden answered questions.
CIBA/2017-12-07/371(P)|301| — Membership of Subcommittees
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That the following senators be named as members of the Audit Subcommittee:
The Honourable Senator Batters;
The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.;
The Honourable Senator Dawson;
The Honourable Senator Moncion; and
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain;That the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets:
The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C.;
The Honourable Senator Forest;
The Honourable Senator Munson;
The Honourable Senator Tannas; and
The Honourable Senator Verner, P.C.;That the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Communications:
The Honourable Senator Campbell, Chair;
The Honourable Senator Batters, Deputy Chair;
The Honourable Senator Jaffer;
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain; and
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk;That the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Long Term Vision and Plan:
The Honourable Senator Forest;
The Honourable Senator McCoy;
The Honourable Senator Munson;
The Honourable Senator Plett; and
The Honourable Senator Tannas;That the following senators be named as members of the Subcommittee on Diversity:
The Honourable Senator Jaffer;
The Honourable Senator Marshall; and
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain;That the Honourable Senator Marshall replace the Honourable Senator Tkachuk as a member of the Subcommittee on the Senate Estimates; and
That the provisions of rule 12-5 for membership changes apply to all subcommittees.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-12-07/372(P)|293| — Subcommittee on Human Resources
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That the Subcommittee on Human Resources be established and authorized to examine and report on issues related human resources in the Senate;
That the subcommittee be further authorized:
1. To monitor the transformation of the Human Resources Directorate following the report by Deloitte Canada;
2. To examine and harmonize the working conditions and benefits of Senate employees, whether they work for the Administration, for a senator, or for an officer of the Senate; and
3. To conduct a review of the Senate Policy on Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Workplace;
That the membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Jaffer, McCoy, Moncion, Tannas and Tkachuk, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;
That the Advisory Working Group on the Review of Human Resources be dissolved;
That the work accomplished by the Advisory Working Group on the Review of Human Resources be referred to the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to rule 12-9(2), the committee's authority to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to publish from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of its public meetings be conferred on the subcommittee;
That the committee's authority, pursuant to paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the authority of the committee to reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for witnesses, be conferred on the subcommittee; and
That the subcommittee be required to report to the committee from time to time.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-12-07/373(P)|371| — Independent Senators Group — Funding 2017-18
The committee continued its consideration of additional funding for the Independent Senators Group for the financial year 2017-18. The Honourable Senator Woo answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Moncion moved:
That the ISG be allotted $262,066 for the current financial year of 2017-18.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
CIBA/2017-12-07/374(P)|238| — Seventh Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure — Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee Budget Request
The Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, the Honourable Senator Campbell, presented the seventh report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SEVENTH REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amount for fiscal year 2017-2018:
Banking, Trade and Commerce (cyber security and cyber fraud)
Activity 1: Conference: Wall Street Journal
Pro Cybersecurity Executive Forum New York, New York$19,064 Total $19,064
(includes funds for 3 senators to travel)
Respectfully submitted,
LARRY W. CAMPBELL
Chair
The chair made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Munson moved:
That the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2017-12-07/375(P)|238| — Eighth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
The Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, the Honourable Senator Campbell, tabled the eighth report of the subcommittee as follows:
The Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to table its
EIGHTH REPORT
Your subcommittee met on December 5, 2017 and wishes to report on the following decision taken.
Membership Change on the Joint Interparliamentary Council
It was agreed that the Honourable Senator Dawson replace the Honourable Senator Downe as a member on the Joint Interparliamentary Council (JIC).
Respectfully submitted,
LARRY W. CAMPBELL
Chair
CIBA/2017-12-07/376(P)|221| — Staff Attendance during In Camera Proceedings
The Honourable Senator Plett made a statement.
The Honourable Senator Plett moved:
That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:43 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera, pursuant to rule 12-16(1).
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.
At 10:11 a.m., the committee resumed in public to consider financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate's internal administration.
CIBA/2017-12-07/379(P)|331| — Senator McPhedran: Appeal of Decision from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure — Winnipeg Travel Claim
The committee continued its consideration of an appeal by the Honourable Senator McPhedran to overturn a decision from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure with regard to a travel claim for travel between Winnipeg and Ottawa on May 4 and 5, 2017.
The Honourable Senator McCoy moved:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration approve the Honourable Senator McPhedran's expense claim for May 4 and 5, 2017, thereby overturning the previous decisions by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, commonly known as the Steering Committee, after further consideration by this committee at one or more future convenings of the committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived.
At 10:17 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Pascale Legault
Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Daniel Charbonneau
Recording Secretary