Past Session:

Proceedings of the Subcommittee on Cities

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 15, 2007
(1)

[English]

The Subcommittee on Cities of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met at noon this day, in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting.

Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Keon and Trenholme- Counsell. (4).

In attendance: Brian O`Neal and Havi Echenberg, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

The subcommittee proceeded to organize.

The clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of the chair.

The Honourable Senator Keon moved that the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., do take the chair of this subcommittee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Eggleton took the chair.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved that the Honourable Senator Champagne, P.C., be deputy chair of this subcommittee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell moved:

That the chair and the deputy chair be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:

That the subcommittee print its proceedings; and

That the chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell 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 subcommittee 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 chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, ask the Library of Parliament to assign research analysts to the subcommittee;

That the chair and the deputy chair 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 adopted.

The Honourable Senator Trenholme Counsell 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 subcommittee; 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 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 adopted.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:

That the subcommittee empower the chair and the deputy chair, 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 adopted.

The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:

That the chair and the deputy chair 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 adopted.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:

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 adopted.

The Honourable Senator Fairbairn, P.C., moved:

That the chair and the deputy chair be empowered to allow, at their discretion, coverage by electronic media of the subcommittee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The chair noted that the time slot for meeting of the subcommittee is Thursdays 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved:

That each subcommittee member be allowed to have staff persons present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 12:05 p.m., pursuant to rule 92 (2)(e), the subcommittee continued in-camera to consider a draft agenda.

At 12:25 p.m., it was agreed that the subcommittee adjourn to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 21, 2007
(2)

[English]

The Subcommittee on Cities met this day at 5:57 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C. presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Keon, Munson, and Trenholme Counsell (5).

Others senators present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Callbeck, Cochrane, Cook and Pépin (5).

In attendance: Brian O'Neal and Havi Echenberg, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and delegated on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, the subcommittee considered a special study budget application.

The Honourable Senator Munson moved:

That the following special study budget application (cities) for fiscal year 2007-08 be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology:

Summary of Expenditures:

Professional and Other Services	$ 38,000
Transportation and Communications	0
All Other Services	2,000
Total:	$ 40,000

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 5:59 p.m., it was agreed that the subcommittee adjourn to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, April 3, 2008
(3)

[English]

The Subcommittee on Cities met in camera this day at 10:47 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C. presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Keon, Munson and Trenholme Counsell (5).

In attendance: Brian O'Neal, Tyler Kustra and Tonine Simone, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

WITNESSES:

University of Saskatchewan:

Evelyn Peters, Professor, Department of Geography.

National Association of Friendship Centres:

Kama Steliga, Executive Director, Lillooet Friendship Centre.

Calvin Hanselmann, Director of Research.

Pursuant to rule 92 (2)(e), the subcommittee considered a draft agenda.

It was moved that the following special study budget application (cities) for fiscal year 2007-08 be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology

Summary of Expenditures:

Professional and Other Services	$ 85,610
Transportation and Communications	$ 227,290
All Other Services	$ 14,100
Total:	$ 327,000

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 11:08 a.m., the subcommittee suspended.

At 11:12 a.m. pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 and delegated on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, the subcommittee continued its examination on current social issues pertaining to Canada's largest cities, in particular poverty, housing and homelessness.

Ms Peters, Ms Steliga and Mr. Hanselmann each made a statement and responded to questions.

At 1:00 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, April 17, 2008
(4)

[English]

The Subcommittee on Cities met in camera this day at 11:27 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C. presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cordy, Eggleton, P.C., Keon, and Munson (4).

In attendance: Brian O'Neal, Havi Echenberg and Tyler Kustra, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

WITNESSES:

Caledon Institute of Social Policy:

Michael Mendelson, Senior Scholar.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities:

Marie White, National Chairperson.

University of Victoria:

Michael Prince, Professor of Social Policy.

Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec:

Walter Zelaya, Representative.

Mr. Mendelson, Ms White, Mr. Prince and Mr. Zelaya each made a statement and responded to questions.

At 1:05 p.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Barbara Reynolds

Clerk of the Subcommittee