Proceedings of the Special Senate Committee on Aging
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, November 20, 2006
(1)
[Translation]
The Special Senate Committee on Aging met this at 1:18 p.m. in room 257, East Block, pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carstairs, P.C., Chaput, Cordy and Mercer (4).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Julie Cool, Michael Toye and Howard Chodos, Research Analysts.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the committee proceeded to hold an organization meeting.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., do take the Chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., took the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the Honourable Senator Keon be Deputy Chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set a number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput 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 member of the committee from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 section 8, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure 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 the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cordy 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; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer 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 adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the committee meet from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, at the call of the Chair.
The committee discussed future business.
At 1:36 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, November 27, 2006
(2)
[Translation]
The Special Senate Committee on Aging met this day at 12:33 p.m. in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carstairs, P.C., Chaput, Cordy, Johnson, Keon, Mercer and Murray, P.C. (7).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Julie Cool, Michael Toye and Howard Chodos, Research Analysts.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 7, the committee commenced consideration of the implications of an aging society in Canada.
WITNESSES:
Statistics Canada:
Pamela White, Director, Demography Division;
Laurent Martel, Analyst, Research and Analysis Section, Demography Division.
As an individual:
Byron Spencer, Professor, Economics, McMaster University.
National Aboriginal Health Organization:
Carole Lafontaine, Acting Chief Executive Officer;
Mark Buell, Manager, Policy/Communications Unit.
National Advisory Council on Aging:
Robert Dobie, Acting Chair;
Margaret Gillis, Director, Division of Aging and Seniors, Centre for Healthy Human Development, Public Health Agency of Canada.
As an individual:
Douglas Durst, Professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina.
The Chair made a statement.
Ms. White and Mr. Spencer made presentations and then, together with Mr. Martel, answered questions.
At 1:52 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:53 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That the committee adopt the draft budget application for its special study on aging and that the Chair summit that budget to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration for its approval:
| Professional and other services | $ 15,600 |
| Transportation and Communications | 9,000 |
| All other expenditures | 500 |
| TOTAL | $ 25,100 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 1:55 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.
At 2:02 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting.
Ms. Lafontaine, as well as Mr. Dobie and Mr. Durst, made presentations and then, together with Mr. Buell, answered questions.
At 3:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
François Michaud
Clerk of the Committee