Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 23, 1999
(1)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources met at 5:14 p.m. this day, in Room 356-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization pursuant to Rule 88.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buchanan, P.C., Chalifoux, Christensen, Cochrane, Eyton, Kelleher, P.C., Sibbeston, Spivak, and Taylor (9).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament, Lynne Myers, Research Officer.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to Rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chairman.

The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Spivak do take the Chair of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Spivak took the Chair.

The Honourable Senator Christensen moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Taylor be Deputy Chairman of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Chalifoux moved -- 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 consultation; and That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Taylor moved -- That the committee print 250 copies of its proceedings, and That the Chairman be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Chalifoux moved -- That, pursuant to Rule 89, the Chairman be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and to authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and a representative of the opposition are present.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Eyton moved -- That, pursuant to Rule 104, the Chairman be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C., moved -- That the Committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; That the Chairman be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subjet matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it; 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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Christensen moved -- 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 Committee be conferred individually on the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and the Clerk of the Committee.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved -- That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:

1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and

2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Buchanan, P.C., moved -- That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chairman be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Chalifoux moved -- That the Chairman be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 5:26 p.m., the committee proceeded in camera to consider future business.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane that the committee authorize the Chairman to seek a general mandate from the Senate to study issues relating to energy, the environment, and natural resources generally in Canada.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane that the committee do adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Accordingly, at 5:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, December 2, 1999
(2)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met at 8:36 a.m. this day, in camera, in Room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chairman, the Honourable Mira Spivak, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buchanan, P.C., Chalifoux, Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Kelleher, P.C., Kenny, Sibbeston, Spivak, and Taylor (10).

The committee proceeded to consider future business.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny that the committee adopt the following budget application for its legislative work for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000:

Professional and Other Services $ 8,000
Transportation and Communications 5,000
Other Expenditures 1,000
Total $14,000

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny that the committee adopt the following budget application for its examination of issues relating to energy, the environment, and natural resources generally in Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000:

Professional and Other Services $12,750
Transportation and Communications 25,450
Other Expenditures 1,500
Total $39,700

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed that the Chairman be authorized to make necessary changes to the budget applications.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny that the committee do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Accordingly, at 9:31 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Till Heyde

Clerk of the Committee