Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Fisheries
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 29, 2002
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries met this day at 6:05 p.m., in room 505, Victoria Building, for the purpose of organizing.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Baker, P.C., Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Mahovlich, Phalen and Watt (8).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Research Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That the Honourable Senator Comeau take the Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Comeau took the Chair.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane — That the Honourable Senator Cook be Deputy Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Phalen — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be created and composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Honourable Senator Watt.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That, on behalf of this Committee, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure determine the agenda of this Committee, invite witnesses before this committee and schedule hearings of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich — That this Committee ask the Library of Parliament Research Branch to assign Claude Emery as Research Analyst of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Phalen — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to negotiate the contracts and retain the services of such companies or experts as is required by the work of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich — That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to hire such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for this committee's study of bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates referred to this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That, on behalf of this committee, the Chair direct its research staff in the preparation of analyses, draft reports, studies, summaries and other documents.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cook — That, until another option is agreed upon by this committee and approved by both whips, this committee meet on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in room 505 of the Victoria Building.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Adams — That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold hearings to receive evidence and to have it printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least one member of this committee from each of the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Adams — That this committee print its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane — That the Chair be authorized to set from time to time the number of printed copies of the proceedings of this committee as required.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That pursuant to rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report on the expenses incurred by this committee during the previous session of Parliament.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That, pursuant to rule 102, and the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, this Committee have the authority and discretion to reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization, with payment to take place following a formal claim by the witness.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Adams — That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, and if exceptional circumstances warrant it, the Chair have the discretion to approve the reimbursement of reasonable living expenses for a second witness from a given organization.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Phalen — That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, the authority to commit the funds of this committee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane — That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, the authority to certify the accounts payable by this committee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Mahovlich — That the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to have the public proceedings of this committee, at its discretion, televised with the least possible disruption of its hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Watt — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure have the power to designate, as required, one or more members of this committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane — That, for the purpose of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to consider a member of this committee to be on ``official business'' if the member is: a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of this committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane — That documents to be distributed to the members and staff of this committee be distributed via electronic mail whenever possible.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Baker — That the Chair be authorized to seek an amendment to rule 86(1)(o) to have the name of this committee changed to ``Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.''
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Chair asked all members to submit suggestions to the Steering Committee as to the future business of the committee.
At 6:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 5, 2002
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries met in camera this day at 7:01 p.m., in room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Gerald J. Comeau, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Cochrane, Comeau, Cook, Hubley, Johnson and Phalen (7).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Research Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: Nicole Power, Research Assistant to the Honourable Senator Cochrane.
The committee proceeded to discuss its future business.
It was agreed — That Nicole Power could remain in the room during the meeting.
It was agreed — That the committee undertake a special study on the combined topics of straddling stocks and fish habitat.
The committee asked its Research Analyst to document the work already done on fish habitat by the committee during the 1st Session of the 37th Parliament, as well as the work still outstanding on this topic.
It was agreed — That the Chair seek an amendment to the motion tabled on October 30, 2002 (order of reference for a special study on oceans and fisheries), by having the motion call instead for a referral to the committee of a special study on straddling stocks and on fish habitat, the final report thereon being tabled no later than December 31, 2003.
It was agreed — That consideration on the Honourable Senator Carney's proposal that the committee undertake a special study on the erosion of Coast Guard Services be deferred until such time as the role of the Standing Commons Committee on Fisheries on this topic is known.
At 7:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 19, 2002
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries met this day at 7:01 p.m., in room 505 of the Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Gerald J. Comeau, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Hubley, Johnson, Mahovlich and Phalen (6).
In attendance: Claude Emery, Research Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to discuss its future business.
After debate on the proposed work plan covering the next 11 months, members agreed on the following modifications:
Bring forward the appearance of Gus Etchegary, from the Fisheries Crisis Alliance, from February 18 to January 28, 2003, on the same day as Professor Dawn Russell, from the Dalhousie Law School;
Invite, of all the members of the Newfoundland Provincial Advisory Council on Foreign Overfishing, preferably Dr. Art May and Alastair O'Reilly;
Bring forward the appearance of an American expert from February 25 to February 18, 2003;
Keep February 25, 2003, open for a possible additional witness on the topic of straddling stocks;
Have the delegation attending the International Boston Seafood Show in March 2003 spend only two nights and two days in Boston; and
Extend the Committee's fact-finding trip to British Columbia in March 2003 by one night and one day.
Members suggested the following possible additional witnesses on the topic of straddling stocks: Tom Bess; representatives from Scotland (by videoconference); and representatives from Iceland (by videoconference).
Members suggested the following possible additional witnesses on the topic of fish habitat: experts from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (e.g., Dr. Lee); and military officials (to address the specific subject of military ammunition dumped in water).
Quoting a November 18, 2002, article from the National Post, the Chair suggested that the Committee add the topic of briny waste to the list of subjects it will study under the heading of fish habitat.
Members authorised the Chair to contact Professor Lawrence Juda, from the University of Rhode Island, to verify his availability and interest as a possible witness to provide the committee with an American perspective on the issues surrounding straddling stocks.
Members authorised the Chair to contact Canada's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, His Excellency Alain Dudoit, to verify his availability and interest as a possible witness on the topic of straddling stocks.
The Chair reminded members that the committee would be travelling to Burlington, Hamilton Harbour and Miramichi in the fall of 2003.
The committee proceeded to discuss its draft budget.
After debate on the proposed budget covering the balance of the current fiscal year, members agreed to adopt the budget as proposed, subject to minor modifications reflecting agreed upon changes in the duration of the two above- mentioned March 2003 trips.
The following documents were distributed to members:
An Introduction to the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries, a document from the staff of the committee;
Three sections from the 2002 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development: ``The Commissioner's Perspective 2002 — The Decade After Rio,'' Chapter 4: ``Invasive Species,'' and Chapter 6: ``Exercising Your Right to Know: The Environmental Petitions Process.''
At 7:53 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Richard Maurel
Clerk of the Committee