Proceedings of the Committee on
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 29, 2002
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met at 9:35 a.m., this day, in room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Milne, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Bacon, Di Nino, Joyal, P.C., Losier- Cool, Milne, Rompkey, P.C., Smith, P.C., Stratton and Wiebe (10).
In attendance: From the Committees Directorate, Krista Durrell; Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Jamie Robertson, Margaret Young; from the office of the Honourable Milne, Jeff Paul; Barbara Kagedan, from the office of the Honourable Senator Smith, Jennifer Hartley.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Election of Chair
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved, — That The Honourable Senator Milne be Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Milne assumed the Chair and made opening remarks.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited the Chairman elect to take the Chair
The Chair presided over the election of the Deputy Chair.
Election of Deputy Chair
The Honourable Senator Wiebe moved, — That the Honourable Senator Andreychuck be Deputy Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Sub-committee on Agenda and Procedure
The Honourable Senator Bacon moved, —
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and a Senator to be confirmed;
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings;
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Motion to print the Committee's Proceedings
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved, — That the committee print its Proceedings and That the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when quorum is not present
The Honourable Senator Rompkey moved, — That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair 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.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Financial Report
The Honourable Senator Andreychuck moved, —
That, pursuant to Rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Research Staff
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved, —
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
That the Chair 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; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.
Authority to commit funds and certify accounts
The Honourable Senator Joyal moved, —
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair; and the Clerk of the Committee; 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 Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
Travel
The Honourable Senator Rompkey moved, — That the committee empower the Steering Committee 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.
The question being put on motion, — it was agreed.
Designation of Members Travelling on Committee Business
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) 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
2) 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 within Canada; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee within Canada.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Wiebe moved — 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 Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
Electronic media coverage of public meetings
The Honourable Senator Losier-Cool moved —
That, the Chair 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 agreed.
Meeting times of the committee were discussed and agreed.
The committee proceeded to discuss matters of future business.
Subcommittee on Procedure and Agenda
The name of the Honourable Senator Smith was confirmed to be the third member of the Steering Committee.
Adjournment
At 9:54 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 5, 2002
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met at 9:34 a.m., this day, in room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Milne, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Bacon, Di Nino, Grafstein, Joyal, P.C., Milne, Pépin, Rompkey, P.C. and Stratton (9).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Sparrow (1).
Also in attendance: From the Committees Directorate: Krista Durrell; Charles Robert, Principal Clerk of Procedure; from Senate Communications: Diane Boucher; from the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Jamie Robertson.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 31, the committee proceeded to study the motion of the Honourable Senator Kinsella that ``for the duration of the present session any select committee may meet during adjournments of the Senate.''
The Honourable Senator Rompkey moved, — That rule 95(2) and (3) be suspended, pending a final report on this Order of Reference, debate arising thereon.
Mr. Charles Robert, Principal Clerk of Procedure, was invited to say a few words on the history of the rule and answer questions.
After discussion, it was agreed not to proceed as proposed, but to advise Chairs to individually give notice in the Senate of their intention to sit.
Pursuant to rule 86(1)(f), the committee proceeded to its study into the question of tabling reports with the Clerk of the Senate when the Senate is not sitting.
The Chair made a brief statement.
At 9:56 a.m., the Honourable Senator Andreychuk assumed the Chair.
Mr. Robert made a statement and answered questions.
Madame Boucher made a statement and answered questions.
At 10:34 a.m., the Honourable Senator Milne resumed the Chair.
It was agreed that the committee meet tomorrow in camera to consider a draft report.
At 10:49 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 6, 2002
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met in camera, at 12:13 p.m., this day, in room 356-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Milne, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuck, Day, Grafstein, Hubley, Joyal, P.C., Kinsella, Losier-Cool, Milne, Murray, P.C., Pépin, Rompkey, P.C., Smith, P.C. and Stratton (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Gauthier, Kinsella and Stollery (3).
Also in attendance: From the Committees Directorate: Heather Lank, Principal Clerk; Charles Robert, Principal Clerk of Procedure; from the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Jamie Robertson.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, October 31, the committee proceeded to study the motion of the Honourable Senator Kinsella that ``for the duration of the present session any select committee may meet during adjournments of the Senate''.
The committee agreed to proceed in camera for the purposes of drafting a report on its study of rules 95(2) and (3). Staff were permitted to remain.
A draft report allowing Senate committees to sit on sitting days of weeks during which the Senate sits with an intervening period of adjournment exceeding one week was agreed.
It was agreed that the Chair report to the Senate.
The committee proceeded to its study of tabling reports.
The committee continued in camera in order to discuss a draft report.
Dr. Lank made a statement and answered questions.
Suggestions were made to strengthen the report.
It was agreed to circulate a revised draft during the adjournment week, prior to the next meeting.
At 1:22 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Blair Armitage
Clerk of the Committee