Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders

Issue 10 - Eighth Report of the Committee

THURSDAY, March 4, 1999

The Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders has the honour to present its

EIGHTH REPORT

Pursuant to its mandate under Rule 86(1)(f)(i), your committee has examined the issue of a common set of standing rules and orders for joint committees of the Senate and the House of Commons. This work was based on the recommendations that were made in the last Parliament by an informal working group, on which Senators Gauthier and Grimard represented your committee.

Your committee believes that there is much merit in having a common set of rules relating to joint committees. The Appendix contains the proposed Standing Rules and Orders for Joint Committees, as adopted by your committee.

While there continue to be some minor differences in the versions approved by your committee and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, your committee believes that these could best be resolved by the leadership of the Senate and House of Commons.

Your committee, therefore, recommends:

(a) that the leadership of the Senate enter into discussions with the leadership of the House of Commons with a view to the adoption of a common set of standing rules and orders for joint committees of the two chambers along the lines of that contained in the Appendix; and

(b) that your committee approve any changes to the Appendix before they are presented to the Senate for final approval.

Respectfully submitted,

SHIRLEY MAHEU

Chair