THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION

EVIDENCE

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 20, 2018

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 9 a.m. for the election of the chair.

[Translation]

Pascale Legault, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, as clerk of your committee, it is my duty to inform you of the need to elect a new chair and to preside over the election. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.

Senator Saint-Germain: On behalf of the committee members representing the Independent Senators Group, I nominate Senator Sabi Marwah.

[English]

Ms. Legault: Are there any other nominations?

It is moved by the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain that the Honourable Senator Marwah do take the chair of this committee.

Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Ms. Legault: I declare the motion carried.

I invite Honourbale Senator Marwah to take the chair.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Sabi Marwah (Chair) in the chair.

The Chair: Good morning, everyone. This is actually quite surreal. I remember when I joined the Senate that Senator Housakos was here. I watched the proceedings with great admiration, so I will learn from you, senator.

I would like to thank all of you for electing me chair of this committee. I really appreciate it. I look forward to working with all of you and with management to really work in the best interests of the Senate.

At the outset, I would like to thank the outgoing chair, Senator Larry Campbell, for his leadership of this committee for over the past year and especially for chairing the committee over the summer despite a fair degree of stress on his health. I really appreciate his efforts for that period.

I would also like to thank Senator Elaine McCoy. When I joined the Senate almost two years ago, it was at her encouragement that I joined this committee, and it has been at her gentle persuasion since then that I remain on it even though I went away for a year and came back. Without her encouragement and gentle persuasion I would not be here, so I must thank her as well.

I haven’t had time to review the agenda or the past history, so if it’s all right with you, I shall adjourn the meeting for today and we will pick it up next week.

Senator Jaffer: Before you adjourn, can I speak for a second?

The Chair: Certainly.

Senator Jaffer: As committee members, we want to thank Senator Campbell, Senator Batters and Senator Munson for the amazing work they have done. It has not been easy.

I also want to thank Senator Housakos, Senator Cordy and Senator Wells, who have worked really hard to get us where we were and then Senators Campbell, Batters and Munson, who have brought us here.

I want to thank you, Senator Batters and Senator Munson. We really appreciate it. I think I speak for all of us here to say to you that we also will work with you. This is a tough time, but an exciting time for the Senate. And we want to personally thank you for taking the time.

The Chair: Thank you. Those are big shoes to fill in terms of the previous chairs, so thank you.

With that we will adjourn and see you next week.

(The committee adjourned.)