Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Issue 2 - Evidence - June 5, 2008

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 8:41 a.m., in public, to consider administrative and other matters.

Senator George J. Furey (Chair) in the chair.

[English]

The Chair: Honourable senators, Senator St. Germain called me yesterday to indicate that he would be unable to attend today because he has to go to a funeral in British Columbia.

As you will recall, at our last meeting we indicated that this would be the last international travel application we would entertain until we hear back from the subcommittee that will make recommendations to the full committee on how to proceed with international travel applications.

The steering committee has looked at the application and is recommending that we approve it — it has been done in the past on a couple of occasions — but that we follow the regular rules and restrictions for international travel applications, one of which is that it not exceed the cost of a return full-fare ticket. You will notice on the application that Senator St. Germain is talking about driving because some of the areas he is visiting are not accessible by flights. Our Finance Directorate will do an estimate of the closest areas and ensure that the request stays within those limits.

Senator Prud'homme: Are you proposing to adopt the application? I was going to second the motion.

The Chair: Let us go in camera to discuss the actual application. I wanted to put it on the record publicly as if Senator St. Germain were here.

The committee continued in camera.