Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 11, 2015
OTTAWA, Friday, December 11, 2015
(5)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 8:32 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bellemare, Campbell, Eaton, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Marshall, Mockler and Smith (Saurel) (7).
In attendance: Sylvain Fleury and Alex Smith, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk informed the committee of a vacancy in the chair and, presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Eaton moved:
That the Honourable Senator Smith (Saurel) do take the chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited Senator Smith (Saurel) to take the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the Honourable Senator Campbell be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and one other member, to be designated after the usual consultations; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Marshall moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Eaton moved:
That pursuant to rule 12-17, the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and authorize the publication of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from both the opposition and the Senate Liberals be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Campbell moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Marshall moved:
That, pursuant to section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the committee; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Eaton moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business'' for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday,June3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business'' if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Marshall moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable traveling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mockler moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 8:35 a.m., the committee discussed future business.
At 8:48 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Clerk of the Committee