51 Elizabeth II, A.D. 2002, Canada

Journals of the Senate

1st Session, 37th Parliament

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Issue 124 - Appendix "A"

Thursday, June 13, 2002
1:30 p.m.

The Honourable Daniel Hays, Speaker

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THURSDAY, June 13th, 2002

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament (formerly entitled the Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders) has the honour to present its

FIFTEENTH REPORT

1. In accordance with its mandate under Rule 86(1)(f)(i), and in obedience to its orders of reference of March 15, 2001 and October 18, 2001, your Committee is pleased to present the following report regarding the mandates and names of committees.

2. During the course of its deliberations with respect to the restructuring of committees, the Chair and Deputy Chair of your Committee consulted the Chairs of other committees, or in some cases met with the committees themselves, concerning the adequacy of existing mandates. There was wide agreement that existing committee mandates are not creating problems of effectiveness, and that a consolidation of existing mandates would not reduce workloads or demands on Senators' time. The prevailing view was that, if anything, the replacement of existing committees by new ones possessing combined or widened mandates would exacerbate existing problems. Your Committee concurs in these findings and, therefore, is recommending only one change, requested by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, to recognize a distinct mandate concerning Francophonie relations in addition to mandates concerning Commonwealth relations and foreign relations.

3. Discussions have also been held with the Chairs of committees in order to ascertain whether there is general satisfaction concerning the existing names of committees, and their accuracy in reflecting the mandates currently in effect. These discussions have identified three committee names that, in the view of current Chairs, require modification. Your Committee agrees that committee names need to reflect, as fully as possible, the policy mandates of committees (including changes that have emerged in the policy fields reflected in these mandates) in order to maximize the transparency of the committee system, and therefore recommends three substantive changes, along with a technical change to the English name of your Committee:

- that the "Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs'' be replaced by "Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade;''

- that the "Senate Committee on Fisheries'' be replaced by "Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans;''

- that the "Senate Committee on National Finance'' be replaced by "Senate Committee on National Finance and Government Operations;'' and

- that the "The Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament'' be replaced with "The Committee on Rules, Procedure and the Rights of Parliament.''

Your Committee, therefore, recommends:

That rule 86 of the Rules of the Senate be amended:

A. by replacing paragraph 86(1)(f) of the English version with the following:

"(f) The Committee on Rules, Procedure and the Rights of Parliament, composed of fifteen members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, which is empowered:

(i) on its own initiative to propose, from time to time, amendments to the rules for consideration by the Senate;

(ii) upon a reference from the Senate, to examine and, if required, report on any question of privilege; and

(iii) to consider the orders and customs of the Senate and privileges of Parliament.''

B. by replacing paragraph 86(1)(h) with the following:

"(h) The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, composed of twelve members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, to which shall be referred, if there is a motion to that effect, bills, messages, petitions, inquiries, papers and other matters relating to foreign, Commonwealth and Francophonie relations generally, including:

(i) treaties and international agreements;

(ii) external trade;

(iii) foreign aid; and

(iv) territorial and offshore matters.''

C. by replacing paragraph 86(1)(i) with the following:

"(i) The Senate Committee on National Finance and Government Operations, composed of twelve members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, to which shall be referred, if there is a motion to that effect, bills, messages, petitions, inquiries, papers and other matters relating to federal estimates generally, including:

(i) national accounts and the report of the Auditor General; and

(ii) government finance.''

D. by replacing paragraph 86(1)(o) with the following:

"(o) The Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, composed of twelve members, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, to which shall be referred, on order of the Senate, bills, messages, petitions, inquiries, papers and other matters relating to fisheries generally.''

Respectfully submitted,

JACK AUSTIN

Chair

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