Proceedings of the Special Committee of the Senate on
the Cape Breton
Development Corporation
Issue 1 - Evidence - November 4 Sitting
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 4, 1997
The Special Senate Committee on the Cape Breton Development Corporation met this day at 10:30 a.m. to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Mr. Michel Patrice, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, we have a quorum. As clerk of your committee it is my duty to preside over the election of the chairman of this committee. Are there any motions to that effect?
Senator Murray: I move that Senator Bryden be the chairman of this committee.
Mr. Patrice: It has been moved that Senator Bryden be chairman of this committee. Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator John G. Bryden (Chairman) in the Chair.
The Chairman: Thank you, honourable senators. We have a standard order of business to go through to organize this committee, which I think you all have before you.
The second motion that we require is for the election of the deputy chairman.
Senator MacDonald: I move that Senator Lowell Murray be the deputy chairman of this committee.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Murray: Thank you, senators, I am happy to serve.
The Chairman: The third motion we require is with regard to the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
Senator Moore: Honourable senators, I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chairman, the deputy chairman and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consideration; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The next item on the agenda is with regard to the printing of the committee's proceedings.
Senator MacDonald: I move:
That the committee print 200 copies of its proceedings and that the chairman be authorized to adjust this number based on demand.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The next motion required is with regard to authorization to hold meetings and print evidence when a quorum is not present.
Senator MacDonald: I move:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chairman be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of each party is present.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The next motion is with regard to research staff.
Senator Moore: I move:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; and
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 chairman, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: As you are probably aware, Mr. Kevin Kerr has been designated as our researcher. We are in the process of looking for someone to liaise with the press.
The next motion is with regard to authority to commit funds and certify accounts.
Senator Moore: I move:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the chairman or, in his absence, the deputy chairman; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred on the chairman, the deputy chairman, and the clerk of the committee.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: The next motion deals with travelling and living expenses of witnesses.
Senator Butts: I move:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses' expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization, and payment will take place upon application.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Item number 9 deals with the budget. The proposed motion reads:
That the following budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, budgets and Administration:
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
Professional and Special Services $13,000
Transportation and Communications 500
Other Expenditures 200
Total $13,700
There is more detail in the submission that will be made. We have budgeted $500 a day for a communications consultant for a total of $10,000. If we are able to meet our target of reporting before Christmas, we will not need to expend that amount of money.
There are ten working lunches included at $250 each. I do not know what the hospitality of $500 includes.
There are courier services for $500 and miscellaneous of $200.
Senator Forrestall: What do we need courier services for?
The Chairman: It is standard for distributing copies of the report to the media and interested parties.
Senator Murray: I move that the budget be approved.
The Chairman: Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: There is one mother matter that we need to discuss. You will notice that Senator MacDonald and Senator Buchanan were not included on the membership list of the committee.
Senator Murray: Senator Rompkey is not there either.
Mr. Patrice: He is not a member.
The Chairman: That is due simply to a clerical error in the clerk's office.
I should like a motion for us to go in camera to discuss the work plan of the committee. It is normally done that way. We do not need to have this recorded. If there are any press people present, I assume they will leave. I do not think there are any here.
Senator Forrestall: I move that we proceed in camera.
The committee continued in camera.