Proceedings of the Subcommittee on
Veterans Affairs
Issue 1 - Evidence
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 5, 1997
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 5:00 p.m. to organize the activities of the committee.
Mr. Patrick Savoie, Clerk of the Subcommittee: Honourable senators, I see a quorum so I will call the meeting to order.
[English]
The first item of business is the election of a chairman for the subcommittee. I am open to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Bonnell: I move that Senator Orville Phillips from Prince Edward Island be the chairman of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs for this session of Parliament.
Senator Forest: I second that motion.
Mr. Savoie: It is moved by Senator Bonnell, seconded by Senator Forest, that Senator Phillips be chairman of the subcommittee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Savoie: Senator Phillips, you have been elected chairman. Would you please take the chair.
Senator Orville H. Phillips (Chairman) in the Chair.
The Chairman: Honourable senators, the next item of business is the election of the deputy chairman.
Senator Jessiman: I move that Senator Bonnell be deputy chairman of the subcommittee.
Senator Forest: I second the motion.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Would someone move the next item on the agenda, honourable senators?
Senator Bonnell: I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and one other member of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs to be designated after the usual consultation;
That the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and
That the Subcommittee report its decisions to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.
I also propose that Senator Forrest be designated for the steering committee.
Senator Forest: I have one concern, which I mentioned it at the meeting before, that I am on four other committees. However, I will do my best to be here.
Senator Bonnell: We will not meet without you. We have had a very good working committee for some time now, and the chairman always holds the meeting when the deputy chairman can be present. We can certainly hold these meetings in your office, if you want to, while you are having supper or breakfast.
The Chairman: Perhaps later than breakfast, Senator Bonnell.
Senator Forest: I would agree, I just have that concern.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: May I have someone move item No. 4 on the agenda,.
Senator Jessiman: I move:
That the Subcommittee print 300 copies of its Proceedings and that the Chairman be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Would someone move item No. 5 on the agenda, please.
Senator Bonnell: 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: Would someone move item No. 6 on the agenda, please.
Senator Bonnell: I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the Committee;
That the Chair, on behalf of the Subcommittee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Would someone move item No. 7 on the agenda, please.
Senator Forest: I move:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chairman or, in the Chairman's 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 Subcommittee be conferred on the Chair and the Deputy Chair.
The Chairman: All in favour, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Would someone move item No. 8 on the agenda, please.
Senator Jessiman: I move:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses' expenses, the Subcommittee 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, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Would someone move item No. 9 on the agenda, please.
Senator Bonnell: I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings at its discretion.
The Chairman: Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: As to the time slot for regular meetings, the clerk advises that we have not been assigned one.
Senator Bonnell: We will leave it to the agreement of the steering committee.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Any other matters, honourable senators?
Senator Bonnell: I have a matter, Mr. Chairman.
The Senate passed earlier today the following motion:
That the Standing Senate Committee of Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report on the state of health care in Canada concerning veterans of war and Canadian Service persons; that the study concern itself with the availability, quality and standard of health care available to those veterans and Service persons;
That the Committee have power to authorize television and radio broadcasting, as it deems appropriate, of any of its proceedings; and
That the Committee submit its report no later than June 30, 1998.
I am a little afraid that the only authority we have is to study health care with regard to veterans. We can go to hospitals, that kind of thing. However, we do not have the authority, as we have had in previous years, to study all things related to veterans. That is not in the motion.
It appears as if we might be able to go to Charlottetown and get some information from the head of the department concerning health car, and we may be able to visit hospitals. However, we may have to introduce another motion to travel if we go to visit hospitals, because it does not appear to be covered in this motion.
Mr. Savoie: It is not required.
Senator Bonnell: Why is that?
Mr. Savoie: If you wish to travel, a budget is prepared for travelling and presented to the Senate in a report.
Senator Jessiman: Do you prepare a budget?
Mr. Savoie: Yes.
Senator Bonnell: We are inclined to go and see some of the hospitals, are we not?
The Chairman: The steering committee can discuss the matter. I would like to see some of the hospitals.
That leaves only one other matter, the adjournment.
Senator Forest: I move that we adjourn.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The subcommittee adjourned.