Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue No. 34 - Evidence - December 14, 2017
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 14, 2017
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, to which was referred Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Artist Laureate), met this day at 10:30 a.m. to give clause-by-clause consideration to the bill; and, in camera, for the consideration of a draft agenda (future business).
Senator Art Eggleton (Chair) in the chair.
[Translation]
The Chair: Welcome to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
[English]
We meet this morning on Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Artist Laureate). Before we got to clause-by-clause consideration of that particular bill, it’s time for introductions.
I’m Art Eggleton, chairman of the committee, from Toronto.
Senator Seidman: Judith Seidman from Montreal, Quebec.
Senator Neufeld: Richard Neufeld from British Columbia.
Senator Bernard: Wanda Thomas Bernard from Nova Scotia.
Senator Omidvar: Ratna Omidvar from Ontario.
Senator Bovey: Patricia Bovey from Manitoba.
[Translation]
Senator Petitclerc: Chantal Petitclerc from Quebec.
[English]
The Chair: Yesterday we heard from witnesses, so is it agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Artist Laureate)?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
Shall clause 1 carry?
Senator Bovey.
Senator Bovey: Mr. Chair, I would like to move that Bill S-234 be amended in clause 1,
(a) on page 1,
(i) by replacing line 7 with the following:
“Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, the holder of which is an”,
(ii) by replacing lines 11 to 18 with the following:
“liamentary Visual Artist Laureate from a list of three names, reflecting Canada’s diversity, submitted in confidence by a committee chaired by the Parliamentary Librarian, and also composed of the Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada, the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts and the President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, or their designates.
(3) The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate holds office for a”, and
(iii) by replacing line 22 with the following:
“(4) The mandate of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate is”; and
(b) on page 2, by replacing line 1 with the following:
“(5) In carrying out his or her mandate, the Parliamentary Visual Artist.”
The Chair: The upshot of this amendment is to put the word “visual” in front of “artist” in every case. There’s also the additional words of “or their designate” after the names of the committee members who would be involved in the selection process.
Senator Raine: There’s one more: the addition of the director of the art gallery.
The Chair: Yes. That’s in the written —
Senator Raine: That’s new.
The Chair: That’s true. Good point.
Apparently, if we pass the words “or their designates,” that’s in English, so this would be subject to the law clerk indicating the appropriate translation version.
Shall I put the question regarding the amendment?
Is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 1, as amended, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
Shall clause 2 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
The title is where we also have another amendment. Shall the title carry?
Senator Bovey: Mr. Chair, I move:
That Bill S-234 be amended, on page 1, by replacing the long title with the following:
“An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate)”.
The Chair: Again, the purpose of this is putting in the word “visual.” Is there any discussion?
Shall the amendment to the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the title, as amended, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
Shall this bill, as amended, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Agreed.
Does the committee wish to consider appending observations to the report? The committee can proceed in camera if it wishes or it can, as we more traditionally do, remain in public session if there’s any presentation to be made with respect to observations.
Does the committee wish to consider any observations for the report?
Hon. Senators: No.
The Chair: Is it agreed that I report this bill, as amended, to the Senate?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
That’s it. That legislation is dealt with.
I saw Senator Moore here somewhere. Congratulations to you and Senator Bovey.
With that, I’m going to suspend the public meeting, and we’ll go in camera to consider future business.
Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
(The committee continued in camera.)