Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 20, 2001
(5)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met in camera at 9:32 a.m., this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Lowell Murray, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Cools, Doody, Finnerty, Mahovlich, Murray, P.C., Tunney, Stratton (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Taylor (1).
In attendance: Mr. Guy Beaumier, Research Officer, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee undertook discussion of its draft final report on the Estimates 2000-2001 and the draft report on the Supplementary Estimates (A) 2000-2001.
After discussion, it was agreed that the committee researcher make the changes proposed by the committee members to the draft reports. It was furthermore agreed that the revised reports be distributed to members after which time they would have 24 hours to submit their comments to the Chair of the Committee.
It was agreed that if no further comments are received on the revised draft reports, the Chair will present both reports to the Senate.
At 11:06 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 27, 2001
(6)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met at 9:33 a.m., this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Lowell Murray, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Bolduc, Christensen, Cohen, Cools, Ferretti Barth, Finnerty, Kinsella, Murray, P.C., Stratton, Taylor, Tunney, (12).
In attendance: Mr. Guy Beaumier, Research Officer, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
From the Senate:
Mark Audcent, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on January 31, 2001, the committee continued its examination of the Bill S-6, An Act to assist in the prevention of wrongdoing in the Public Service by establishing a framework for education on ethical practices in the workplace, for dealing with allegations of wrongdoing and for protecting whistleblowers.
Mr. Audcent made a presentation and answered questions from members of the Committee.
After debate, it was agreed to move to the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.
It was agreed to stand the title.
It was agreed to stand clause 1.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
It was agreed that clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that clause 5 carry.
It was agreed that clause 6 carry.
It was agreed that clause 7 carry.
It was agreed that clause 8 carry.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton that clause 9 be amended by adding after line 25 the following:
"(5) An employee who has made a request under paragraph (1)(b) may waive the request or any resulting right to confidentiality, in writing, at any time.
(6) Where the Commissioner is not prepared to give an assurance of confidentiality in response to a request made under paragraph (1)(b), the Commissioner may reject and take no further action on the notice.".
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 9, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 10 carry.
It was agreed that clause 11 carry.
It was agreed that clause 12 carry.
It was agreed that clause 13 carry.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton that clause 14 be amended by replacing line 34 with the following:
"(4) Information related to an investigation is confidential and shall not be disclosed, except in accordance with this Act.
(5) The Commissioner shall provide the".
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 14, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 15 carry.
It was agreed that clause 16 carry.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton that clause 17 be amended by replacing lines 30 and 31 with the following:
"(c) the number of notices rejected pursuant to sections 9 and 12;".
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 17, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 18 carry.
It was agreed that clause 19 carry.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton that clause 20 be amended by replacing lines 25 to 30, with the following:
"20.(1) Except as authorized by this Act or any other law in force in Canada, no person shall disclose to any other person the name of the employee who has given a notice under subsection 9(1) and has requested confidentiality under that section, or any other information the disclosure of which reveals the employee's identity, including the existence or nature of a notice, without the employee's consent.".
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 20, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 21 carry.
It was agreed that clause 22 carry.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton that Bill S-6 be amended on page 11, by adding after line 19, the following:
REVIEW
23. (1) On the expiration of three years after the coming into force of this Act, it stands referred to such committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament as may be designated or established to review its administration and operation.
(2) Within one year after beginning a review under subsection (1) or within such further time as the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, may authorize, the committee shall submit a report on the review.".
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT
Access to Information Act
24. Schedule II of the Access to Information Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:
Public Service Whistleblowing Act section 10, subsection 14(4) and section 20". Loi sur la dénonciation dans la fonction publique.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the Chairman report the Bill as amended to the Senate.
At 10:41 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Tônu Onu
Clerk of the Committee