Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 1 - Evidence of November 19, 2002

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 19, 2002

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 9:10 a.m. to discuss business of the committee.

Senator Thelma J. Chalifoux (Chairman) in the Chair.

[English]

The Chairman: Before we discuss our communications strategy, honourable senators, there are several housekeeping matters with which we must deal. Mr. Adam Thompson, our clerk, has kindly drafted a notice for me. I must address a procedural issue that arose from our organizational meeting.

As you will recall, on motion of Senator Stratton, Senator Robertson was elected deputy chair of this committee. The question of her membership on the committee was raised at the time. We understood that she was indeed a member. As such, a motion for her election would have been quite in order. However, our clerk has confirmed that no change of membership form adding her to the membership of this committee had been received at the time. Consequently, the motion electing her as deputy chair is null and void.

Senator Robertson has since been added to the membership. Therefore, I would ask for a motion that the Honourable Senator Robertson be deputy chair of this committee.

Furthermore, Senator Stratton indicated at that meeting that in Senator Robertson's absence he would be acting on her behalf. I would, therefore, ask someone to move that in the absence of the honourable Senator Robertson the honourable Senator Stratton would be empowered to act to on her behalf as deputy chair of the committee.

Hence, honourable senators, we need two motions. Is someone prepared to move the first motion?

Senator Christensen: I so move.

The Chairman: Is it agreed, honourable senators?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chairman: The second motion is that, in the absence of the Honourable Senator Robertson, the Honourable Senator Stratton be empowered to act on her behalf as Deputy Chair of the committee. Is someone prepared to move that motion?

Senator Léger: I so move.

The Chairman: All in favour?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

Senator Stratton: If I may, thank you for putting your trust in me as the temporary deputy chair. I will ask Senator Tkachuk in your presence if, because I have a conflict on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 with the Rules Committee, followed by another meeting at 11:00, he could act as deputy chair on Tuesdays in my absence? If necessary, I will take his meeting, or the meeting at 6:15, when we meet on Wednesdays.

The Chairman: We want to discuss that too — whether to meet at 6:15 on Wednesdays or when the Senate rises.

Senator Stratton: When the Senate rises is a better idea. Senator Tkachuk has a problem with that.

Senator Tkachuk: I have another committee meeting at 3:30.

Senator Stratton: I would say, because we sit on the ground number wise, I would take Wednesdays and Senator Tkachuk would take Tuesdays because we have those inherent conflicts.

Senator Tkachuk: None of this would happen if the Prime Minister would appoint a few more Tories.

The Chairman: We understand that. Too bad we do not have any influence.

The committee continued in camera.