Proceedings of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, October 28, 2002
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 7:30 p.m. in room 160-S (Subcommittee Room), Centre Block, for the purposes of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Atkins, Day, Kenny, Meighen and Wiebe (5).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Forrestall (1).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Grant Purves, Research Officer; Major General (Ret'd) Keith McDonald, Senior Military Adviser and Mr. Paul Dingledine, National Security Adviser.
Election of Chair
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Subcommittee presided over the election of the Chair.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Wiebe, — That the Honourable Senator Meighen be Chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Chair presided over the election of the Deputy Chair.
Election of Deputy Chair
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Wiebe, — That the Honourable Senator Day be Deputy Chair of this subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Sub-Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Day, —
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Honourable Senator Kenny; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Motion to print the Subcommittee's Proceedings
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny, —
That the subcommittee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when quorum is not present
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny, — 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 member of the Subcommittee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Research Staff
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Wiebe, —
That the subcommittee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the subcommittee;
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 Subcommittee; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Authority to commit funds and certify accounts
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Atkins, —
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 Subcommittee; 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 Subcommittee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Travel
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Atkins, — That the subcommittee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the subcommittee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Designation of Members Travelling on Subcommittee Business
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Atkins, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the Subcommittee 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 Subcommittee to be on ``official business'' if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the subcommittee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
Travelling and living expenses of witnesses
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny, — That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the subcommittee 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 resolved in the affirmative.
Time slot for regular meetings
The clerk informed the subcommittee that the time slots for its meetings are noon on Wednesdays.
Future Business of the Subcommittee
At 7:35 p.m., the subcommittee proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It is moved, — That the Honourable Senator Meighen would seek the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on the health care provided to veterans of war and of peacekeeping missions; the implementation of the recommendations made in its previous reports on such matters; and the terms of service, post-discharge benefits and health care of members of the regular and reserve forces as well as members of the RCMP and of civilians who have served in close support of uniformed peacekeepers; and all other related matters.
That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject during the Second Session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament and the First Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee;
That the committee report no later than June 30, 2003;
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit its report with the Clerk of the Senate, if the Senate is not then sitting; and that the report be deemed to have been tabled in the Chamber; and
That the Chair be authorized to modify the phrase ``if the Senate is adjourned for seven days or more'' pending negotiations of this wording.
Carried.
Adjournment
At 7:45 p.m. the subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 11, 2001
(2)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met at 12:05 p.m., this day, in room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Michael A. Meighen, presiding.
Members of the subcommittee present: Atkins, Day, Kenny and Meighen (4).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Forrestall (1).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Grant Purves, Research Officer; Veronica Morris, Communications Officer and Keli Hogan, Legislative Clerk.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 21, 2002, the subcommittee proceeded upon its examination on the proposal of the Valiants Group for the erection of statues in downtown Ottawa to salute the heroic wartime sacrifice of certain valiant men and women who fought victoriously for the independence of Canada during the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and helped mightily to establish Canada's nationhood.
WITNESSES:
From The Valiants Group:
Mr. Hamilton Southam, Chair;
Dr. Sydney Wise, Senior Historian;
Lieutenant-General (Ret'd) Charles Belzile, Grand President, Royal Canadian Legion.
Mr. Southam made a statement and, along with Dr. Wise and Lieutenant-General (Retired) Belzile, responded to questions.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, — That the material provided by the Valiants Group be filed as an exhibit.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved, — That the letters from the Ministers of Canadian Heritage, National Defence, Veterans Affairs, Public Works and Government Services and from the Chair of the National Capital Commission be filed as an exhibit.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
[Material provided by the Valiants Group] (Exhibit 6050-2.37/V1-SS-2, 1 ``1'')
[Letters from the Ministers of Canadian Heritage, National Defence, Veterans Affairs, Public Works and Government Services and from the Chair of the National Capital Commission] (Exhibit 6050-2.37/V1-SS-2, 1 ``2'')
At 1:00 p.m., the subcommittee proceeded to consider a draft report.
The Honourable Senator Day moved, — That the draft report be adopted and reported to the Committee on National Security and Defence.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 1:08 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Barbara Reynolds
Clerk of the Subcommittee