Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 3 - Reports of the Committee
THURSDAY, December 16, 1999
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to table its
THIRD REPORT
After consultation, Your Committee has examined and approved the appointment of Gary O'Brien as Deputy Clerk and Principal Clerk, Legislative Services, as of December 31, 1999.
Respectfully submitted,
TUESDAY, February 22, 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FOURTH REPORT
Your Committee recommends the adoption of a Supplementary Estimate of $1,200,000 for fiscal year 1999-2000. This amount is an Operating Budget Carry Forward. Like Government departments, the Senate is allowed to carry forward up to 5 per cent of its unspent approved funds from previous years.
This Supplementary Estimate is requested to fund unanticipated expenses. As the Main Estimates are prepared 12 to 18 months in advance, a number of special studies being undertaken by Senate Committees which involve Committee travel, will be funded by this Supplementary Estimate.
Funds are also included to cover personnel costs with respect to research services for Senators Offices and the Senate Hansard Reporting Branch.
Respectfully submitted,
THURSDAY, February 24, 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
FIFTH REPORT
Your Committee has examined and approved the Senate Estimates for the fiscal year 2000-2001 and recommends their adoption.
Your Committee notes that the proposed total budget is $52,495,900. When compared to the 1999-2000 forecasted expenditures of approximately $50,500,000, this represents a 3.9 per cent increase. When compared to actual expenses for fiscal year 1998-1999, this amount represents 1.32 per cent increase. Expressed in constant dollars, the proposed Senate Estimates 1999-2000 are about at the same level as they were in fiscal year 1991-1992.
Barring some very unusual occurrences, supplementary estimates for 2000-2001 will not be required.
The Expenditure Plan 2000-2001 accompanies this report.
Respectfully submitted,
TUESDAY, February 29, 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
In accordance with the Second Report of the Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Committee adopted in the Senate on December 14, 1999, your Committee recommends the adoption of the following Committee budgets for fiscal year 1999-2000.
Aboriginal Peoples Committee (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,800
TOTAL $ 1,800
Banking, Trade and Commerce (Special Study on Financial System)
Professional and Other Services $31,000
Transportation and Communications $28,170
Other Expenditures $ 8,000
TOTAL $67,170
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 8,000
Transportation and Communications $ 5,000
Other Expenditures $ 1,000
TOTAL $14,000
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (Special Study on Issues relating to Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources)
Professional and Other Services $12,750
Transportation and Communications $25,450
Other Expenditures $ 1,500
TOTAL $39,700
Fisheries (Study on Matters Relating to the Fishing Industry)
Professional and Other Services $10,000
Transportation and Communications $55,500
Other Expenditures $ 3,500
TOTAL $69,000
Fisheries (Study on Matters Relating to Fishing Industry)
Professional and Other Services $ 300
Transportation and Communications $11,700
TOTAL $12,000
Foreign Affairs (Study on NATO)
Professional and Other Services $25,050
TOTAL $25,050
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Professional and Other Services $10,000
TOTAL $10,000
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $18,100
Transportation and Communications $ 8,510
Other Expenditures $ 2,550
TOTAL $29,160
Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders
Professional and Other Services $ 5,000
TOTAL $ 5,000
Scrutiny of Regulations (Joint) (Senate Share)
Professional and Other Services $29,445
Transportation and Communications $ 714
Other Expenditures $ 1,582
TOTAL $31,741
Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 2,500
Transportation and Communications $ 3,000
Other Expenditures $ 300
TOTAL $ 6,000
Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Study of Life and Death)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,350
Transportation and Communications $ 5,290
Other Expenditures $ 1,250
TOTAL $ 7,890
Transport and Communications (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $19,500
Transportation and Communications $ 6,700
Other Expenditures $ 700
TOTAL $26,900
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chair
TUESDAY, April 4, 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SEVENTH REPORT
Notwithstanding, the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operations of Senate Committees, your Committee recommends that the following committee funds be released for fiscal year 2000-2001 as interim funding:
Aboriginal Peoples Committee
Legislation $ 3,167
Agriculture and Forestry Committee
Special Study $19,535
Banking Trade & Commerce Committee
Legislation $55,080
Special Study $80,564
Energy, the Environment & Natural Resources Committee
Legislation $ 8,000
Special Study $87,307
Fisheries Committee
Special Study $54,283
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Committee
$ 3,333
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Legislation $ 9,717
National Finance Committee $ 5,667
Privileges, Standing Rules & Orders Committee
$ 3,333
Social Affairs, Science & Technology Committee
Legislation $ 4,500
Of Life and Death $ 2,630
Special Study $13,667
Transport and Communication Committee
Legislation $17,133
Special Study $60,050
Library of Parliament Committee (Joint) (Senate Share)
$ 833
Official Languages (Joint) (Senate Share)
$ 715
Respectfully submitted,
MONDAY, April 10, 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
EIGHTH REPORT
Your Committee wishes to inform the Senate that an action plan on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities has been adopted. This action plan, which was established in close cooperation with representatives of the disabled community, includes the following achievements to date:
i) On December 2nd, 1999, a Senator's Guide to Disability was tabled in the Senate;
ii) A draft Trainer's Guide was developed aimed at complimenting the Senator's Guide to Disability;
iii) A Co-ordination Office was created to implement the action plan and to ensure the continuity of this project;
iv) On February 24th, 2000, the Honourable Senator Carstairs and the Honourable Senator Robertson presented to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration the Senate Action Plan on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, which was subsequently approved by the Committee;
v) On March 30th, 2000, an Information Kit was released which included not only the Senator's Guide to Disability but also the 12 point and 16 point printed versions of the Senate Action Plan plus an audio tape and CD versions of this action plan; and
vi) Your Committee is in the process of developing a Braille version, which will be available by mid-April 2000 and will be included in the Information Kit.
Your Committee is proposing the following initiatives be implemented during the fiscal year 2000-2001:
vii) A Disability Information Kit will be finalized and sent at large by the Speaker to provincial Legislative Assemblies in addition to all our Commonwealth counterparts, inviting them to highlight their respective initiatives taken towards disabled persons;
viii) A Senate Disability Guide for staff will be developed;
ix) A series of training sessions on disability issues for managers and staff will be developed and conducted;
x) A proactive access to the Senate Internet will be also developed; and
xi) Accessibility issues will be incorporated with the Senate Intranet.
Your Committee wishes to thank Senators Carstairs and Robertson for their work on this project and recommends the adoption of this Report by the Senate.
Respectfully submitted,
PIERRE CLAUDE NOLIN
Deputy Chair
TUESDAY, May 30 2000
The Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
NINTH REPORT
Your Committee wishes to inform the Senate that it has adopted a policy on Employment Equity and Diversity and has directed that a self-identification exercise be undertaken by Human Resources.
The objective of this policy is to achieve equality in the workplace for women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities, so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability.
In adopting this policy, the Internal Economy Committee acknowledges its interest to increase the participation and representation in the Senate administration of qualified people from the four designated groups and has decided that action must be taken to facilitate their participation in greater numbers. This entails both the identification of and removal of systemic and other barriers to employment opportunities that may adversely affect women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities. It also involves the implementation of special measures and the application of the concept of reasonable accommodation when these are necessary to achieve and maintain a representative workforce.
Respectfully submitted,
TUESDAY, June 6, 2000
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TENTH REPORT
Notwithstanding the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operations of Senate Committees, your Committee recommends that the following additional funds be released for fiscal year 2000-2001. These funds are in addition to those recommended by the Committee in its Seventh Report, adopted by the Senate on April 7, 2000.
Aboriginal Peoples
Special Study $45,411
Agriculture and Forestry
Subcommittee on Forestry $184,275
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Legislation $93,636
Financial Systems $42,459
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
Legislation $ 4,600
Examination of Issues Relating to Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
$60,324
Fisheries
Special Study $92,282
Foreign Affairs
Legislation $ 9,900
Special Study $74,637
Library of Parliament (Joint) (Senate Share)
$1,667
Official Languages (Joint) (Senate Share)
$1,430
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Legislation $7,650
Special Study on Health Care System $23,233
Transport and Communication
Legislation $29,127
Special Study on the Policy Issues for the 21st Century in Communications Technology $28,780
Your Committee also agreed that the following amounts be deducted from those previously approved:
Agriculture and Forestry
Study on Agriculture $19, 535
Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders
$1,533
Your Committee will continue to review Committee allocations taking into account historical trends of Committee expenditures and possible changes in the structure of Senate Committees.
Respectfully submitted,
TUESDAY, June 27, 2000
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
ELEVENTH REPORT
Notwithstanding the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operations of Senate Committees, your Committee recommends that the following additional funds be released for fiscal year 2000-2001. These funds are in addition to those recommended by the Committee in its Seventh Report, adopted by the Senate on April 7, 2000 and its Tenth Report, adopted by the Senate on June 7, 2000.
Special Committee on Illegal Drugs $170,062
Agriculture and Forestry $1,500
Your Committee will continue to review Committee allocations taking into account historical trends of Committee expenditures and possible changes in the structure of Senate Committees.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chair