Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 2 - Evidence - April 17, 2008
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:34 a.m. to consider administrative and other matters.
Senator Terry Stratton (Deputy Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Deputy Chair: Ladies and gentlemen, this portion of the meeting is in public.
We have before us a report from the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets. I would ask Senator Robichaud to take us through it.
[Translation]
Senator Robichaud: Honourable senators, you have before you the seventh report.
[English]
As I stated last week, your subcommittee is aware that committees have ambitious work plans, and it is important for us to work efficiently and effectively to ensure that committees have the resources they need the carry out their work.
Your subcommittee made recommendations regarding the release of funds for several committee budgets last week.
[Translation]
We have now heard from other committee chairs with respect to their budget needs and asked them to explain their budgets and answer questions.
[English]
Your subcommittee is aware of other modest budgets from certain committees and of the potential for other requests for funds. We have carefully reviewed the budget submissions to date and are comfortable recommending the release of funds for the budgets in this report.
The seventh report includes a recommended total release of $ 81,360 for three legislative budgets, as well as an additional $ 2,255,444 for special studies. This means that your subcommittee has now recommended the release of $ 3,354,767 of a total of $ 4,340,585 submitted by committees.
Because of the amount of the requests that have been submitted by committees, your subcommittee decided to be governed by two key guidelines. First, we have chosen to recommend the release of funds for activities that are to occur by the end of the month of October, as this will allow flexibility to reconsider budgets and any new budgets based on the amount of funds that could be clawed back from activities that are completed.
Your subcommittee is also of the view that priority must be given to funding the core activities of committees, such as public hearings, and that funding for conferences is contingent on the availability of funds. Thus, many budgets only received a partial release of funds requested for conferences at this time.
The total available budget for distribution to committees is $3.35 million, and we have now recommended the release of $3,354,767. While we are fully aware that committees do not spend the total amount allocated to them, we must be responsible in our allocation of funds to ensure that sufficient resources are available to all committees for their core business. Of course, should committees decide that the funds released are not sufficient, they will have the opportunity to appear before the subcommittee to request a further allocation.
[Translation]
I therefore request the adoption of the Seventh Report now before you.
[English]
The Deputy Chair: Thank you very much, Senator Robichaud. I commend all members of the subcommittee — yourself, Senator Downe and Senator Nancy Ruth — for your hard work. I know it is not easy.
Are there any questions with respect to this report?
[Translation]
Senator Prud'homme: Is there a total available budget for all the committees?
Senator Robichaud: Yes.
Senator Prud'homme: Are we talking about $4 million? What is the total available budget?
Senator Robichaud: As I indicated, the total budget available to committees is $3.35 million.
Senator Prud'homme: And what amount are you recommending be released?
Senator Robichaud: We are recommending the release of $$3.354 million.
Senator Prud'homme: So then, that is close to the maximum amount available. Correct?
Senator Robichaud: We are right at the limit at this point in time. Based on the work of committees in previous years, we know that they never actually spend the total amount requested.
Senator Prud'homme: Are you expecting any additional requests for funding?
Senator Robichaud: Yes.
Senator Prud'homme: Do you have an idea of the amount of additional funding that might be requested for other business?
Senator Robichaud: We have received requests for the release of funds for conferences. As I stated, we have released only part of the funds requested for conferences at this time. However, we have checked with committee chairs to be sure that they have the funds they need to carry out their business and to participate in certain conferences scheduled between now and the end of October.
When Parliament resumes sitting in September, we will check and see how much is left of the funds already approved for these activities. That money can then be allocated to committees that submit additional requests for funding.
[English]
The Deputy Chair: Are there any further questions?
Senator Robichaud has moved adoption of the report. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstainers? Carried.
Senator Robichaud: If I may, I want to thank the members of the subcommittee because we have accommodated as many committees as we could so that they would be able to do their work, especially those who were planning activities in May and June. We had special meetings for that. I also want to thank the committee chairs for appearing before the subcommittee.
The Deputy Chair: Are there any other items of business?
The committee adjourned.