Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs,
Science and Technology
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 17, 1999
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, at 5:38 p.m., for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Carstairs, Kirby, Rossiter (4).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: John Craig
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chairman.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Carstairs -- That the Honourable Senator Kirby be Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Senator Kirby was invited by the clerk of the committee to take the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Carstairs -- That the Honourable Senator LeBreton be Deputy Chairman of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Callbeck -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and the Honourable Senator Carstairs;
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and
That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Carstairs, -- That the following motions be adopted:
That the committee print 300 copies of its Proceedings and that the Chairman be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand;
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 the government and a representative from the opposition are present;
That pursuant to rule 104, the Chairman be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session;
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, subject 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;
That the Chairman, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports;
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;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered 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;
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to 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 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;
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; and
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 5:40 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 24, 1999
(2)
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day in camera, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 3:35 p.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Michael Kirby, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Carstairs, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Gill, Kirby, Keon, LeBreton and Murray, P.C. (9).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: John Craig
The committee began its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-6, An Act to support and promote electronic commerce by protecting personal information that is collected, used or disclosed in certain circumstances, by providing for the use of electronic means to communicate or record information or transactions and by amending the Canada Evidence Act, the Statutory Instruments Act and the Statute Revision Act.
The committee discussed future business.
It was agreed -- That the committee meet on the subject matter of Bill C-6 on Thursday, November 25 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with government officials, Monday, November 29 from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 30 from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 1 from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 2 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
It was agreed -- That Senator LeBreton preside over the meeting of Thursday, November 25, 1999.
At 4:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 25, 1999
(3)
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 11:02 a.m., the Deputy Chairman, the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beaudoin, Callbeck, Carstairs, Cohen, Cook, Fairbairn, P.C., Gill, Kinsella, LeBreton, Maheu and Murray, P.C. (11).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: John Craig
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-6, An Act to support and promote electronic commerce by protecting personal information that is collected, used or disclosed in certain circumstances, by providing for the use of electronic means to communicate or record information or transactions and by amending the Canada Evidence Act, the Statutory Instruments Act and the Statute Revision Act.
WITNESSES:
From Industry Canada:
Michael Binder, Assistant Deputy Minister, Spectrum, Information Technology and Telecommunications Sector;
Stephanie Perrin, Director, Privacy Policy, Electronic Commerce Task Force;
Heather Black, Legal Counsel, Legal Services.
From Justice Canada:
Joan Remsu, Senior Counsel, Public Law, Policy Section.
From the Treasury Board:
Michael Power, Assistant Director, Policy.
Michael Binder made a statement and, together with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 12:42 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Piccinin
Clerk of the Committee