Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 17, 2008
(11)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met at 8:34 a.m. this day, the deputy chair, the Honourable Terry Stratton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cook, Downe, Goldstein, Jaffer, Massicotte, Nancy Ruth, Phalen, Prud'homme, P.C., Robichaud, P.C., and Stratton (10).
Also in attendance: senior Senate officials.
IE/2008-04-17/065(P) — Seventh Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets
The chair of the subcommittee, the Honourable Fernand Robichaud, presented the Seventh Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets as follows:
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SEVENTH REPORT
Your Subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2008-2009:
Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 12,000 Transportation and Communications $ 500 All Other Expenditures $ 2,500 Total $ 15,000 Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (New Issues)
Professional and Other Services $ 76,800 Transportation and Communications $ 199,870 All Other Expenditures $ 15,500 Total $ 292,170 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings and participation at conferences. Sole sourcing for charter aircraft is authorized.)
Fisheries and Oceans (Policy Framework)
Professional and Other Services $ 169,349 Transport and Communications $ 348,708 All Other Expenditures $ 32,834 Total $ 550,891 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings and participation at conferences. Sole sourcing for charter aircraft and interpretation is authorized.)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (China, India, Russia)
Professional and Other Services $ 30,000 Transportation and Communications $ 379,950 All Other Expenditures $ 11,000 Total $ 420,950 (includes funds for fact finding missions)
Human Rights (Human Rights Obligation)
Professional and Other Services $ 21,500 Transportation and Communications $ 12,400 All Other Expenditures $ 1,500 Total $ 35,400 (includes funds for participation at conferences)
Human Rights (Federal Public Service)
Professional and Other Services $ 29,550 Transportation and Communications $ 162,780 All Other Expenditures $ 26,000 Total $ 218,330 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings and participation at conferences)
National Finance (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 36,000 Transportation and Communications $ 21,360 All Other Expenditures $ 5,000 Total $ 62,360 (includes funds for participation at conferences)
Official Languages (Official Languages Act)
Professional and Other Services $ 27,400 Transportation and Communications $ 64,182 All Other Expenditures $ 14,500 Total $ 106,082 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings and participation at conferences)
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
(Subcommittee on Cities)
Professional and Other Services $ 85,610 Transportation and Communications $ 227,290 All Other Expenditures $ 14,100 Total $ 327,000 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings and participation at conferences)
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
(Subcommittee on Population Health)
Professional and Other Services $ 69,510 Transportation and Communications $ 215,811 All Other Expenditures $ 5,800 Total $ 291,121 (includes funds for fact finding missions, public hearings, participation at conferences and for research assistance)
Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 4,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 0 Total $ 4,000 Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Early Learning)
Professional and Other Services $ 13,300 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 200 Total $ 13,500 Respectfully submitted,
FERNAND ROBICHAUD
Chair
Senator Robichaud made a presentation regarding the allocation of committee budgets for 2008-09.
He indicated that the seventh report included a recommended total release of $81,360 for three legislative budgets, as well as an additional $2,255,444 for special studies. This meant that the subcommittee had now recommended the release of $3,354,767 of a total of $4,340,585 submitted by committees.
Senator Robichaud stated that the subcommittee decided to be governed by two key guidelines. First, it chose to recommend the release of funds for activities that are to occur by 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 and the subcommittee was 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 was contingent on the availability of funds. Therefore, many budgets only received a partial release of funds requested for conferences at this time.
The total available budget for distribution to committees was $3.35M and the subcommittee had now recommended the release of $$3,354,767.
Senator Robichaud answered questions.
After debate, Senator Robichaud moved that the Seventh Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
At 8:41 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Blair Armitage
Acting Clerk of the Standing Committee
on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 8, 2008
(12)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera at 9:03 a.m. this day, the chair, the Honourable George J. Furey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Furey, Goldstein, Massicotte, Nancy Ruth, Prud'homme, P.C., Robichaud, P.C., and Tardif (9).
Also in attendance: Mr. Paul C. Bélisle, Clerk of the Senate, other senior Senate officials.
IE/2008-05-08/066(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved, that the minutes of proceedings of April 8, April 10 and April 17, 2008 be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2008-05-08/067(P) — Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets
Senator Robichaud informed the committee that he proposed two amendments to the Fifth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets as follows:
Page 2 — Consulting Contracts and Other Services
Add Recommendation #3:
That if the Chair and Deputy Chair do not agree, the matter will be presented to the full committee, in public, for resolution.
Page 4 — Conferences and Other Activities
Amend Recommendations 1 and 2:
That, whenever possible, committees specifically identify in their budgets the nature of the activities for which they are requesting funds; and
That funds allocated for conferences be used for conferences only. Unless explicit permission is granted by the Internal Economy Committee (or the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets) to use them for another purpose.
Senator Robichaud answered questions.
After debate, it was moved that the fifth report be adopted with the proposed amendments.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2008-05-08/068(P) — Budget for the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
It was moved by Senator Massicotte —
That the 2008-09 budget for the second session of the 39th Parliament for the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, in the amount of $5,000 be approved.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
At 9:07 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
At 9:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 29, 2008
(13)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera at 8:05 a.m. this day, the chair, the Honourable George J. Furey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Cowan, Downe, Furey, Massicotte, Nancy Ruth, Prud'homme, P.C., Robichaud, P.C., Stratton and Tardif (11).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Dawson, Kenny, Mitchell and Moore (5).
At 8:13 a.m., the committee resumed in public.
IE/2008-05-29/075/C) — Application for International Travel: Senator Downe
Senator Downe presented his application to travel to St. Petersburg, Florida, from November 16 to 21, 2008 to attend the Coastal Cities Summit 2008: Values and Vulnerabilities.
Senator Downe was asked to absent himself until discussions regarding his application were concluded.
At 8:16 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
At 8:20 a.m., the committee resumed in public.
IE/2008-05-29/078/C) — Eighth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets
The Chair of the Subcommittee, Senator Robichaud, presented the Eighth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets as follows:
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
EIGHTH REPORT
Your Subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2008-2009:
National Security and Defence (legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 8,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 250 Total $ 8,250 National Security and Defence (National Security Policy)
(supplementary release)
Professional and Other Services $ 138,600 Transportation and Communications $ 163,480 All Other Expenditures $ 18,500 Total $ 320,580 The recommended supplementary allocation is for:
GENERAL EXPENSES
Professional and Other Services
Contracts through March 31, 2009 $ 95,000
(does not include funds for research/administrative
assistance)
Working meals $ 9,000 Hospitality $ 2,000 Indexing services (French) $ 5,000 All Other Expenditures
Books, periodicals and subscriptions $ 1,000 Stationary and supplies $ 1,000 Miscellaneous expenses $ 2,000 Total of General Expenses $ 115,000 ACTIVITY 1: Promotion of Reports, Meetings
and Other Matters related to Committee Business
Transportation and Communications $ 20,000 All Other Expenditures $ 1,000 Total for Activity 1 $ 21,000 ACTIVITY 2: East Coast Military Bases Trip
(fact-finding and public hearings)
Professional and Other Services $ 17,900 Transportation and Communications $ 83,000 All Other Expenditures $ 4,500 Total for Activity 2 $ 105,400
ACTIVITY 3: Fact-Finding Mission to Washington, D.C.
Fully funded in initial release
ACTIVITY 4: Ontario Bases Trip (fact-finding)
Professional and Other Services $ 4,050 Transportation and Communications $ 28,040 All Other Expenditures $ 2,800 Total for Activity 4 $ 34,890 ACTIVITY 5: Ontario Kingston Base Trip (fact-finding)
Professional and Other Services $ 4,050 Transportation and Communications $ 17,440 All Other Expenditures $ 2,800 Total for Activity 5 $ 24,290 ACTIVITY 6: Conferences
Professional and Other Services $ 1,600 Transportation and Communications $ 15,000 All Other Expenditures $ 3,400 Total for Activity 6 $ 20,000 National Security and Defence (Veterans' Affairs)
Professional and Other Services $ 16,100 Transportation and Communications $ 11,251 All Other Expenditures $ 7,250 Total $ 34,601 The recommended allocation is for:
GENERAL EXPENSES
Professional and Other Services
Hospitality $ 500 Working meals $ 12,000
Transportation and Communications
Courier charges $ 1,000 All Other Expenditures
Stationary and supplies $ 750 Miscellaneous expenses $ 2,000 Total of General Expenses $ 16,250 ACTIVITY 1: Sainte Anne de Bellevue Hospital (Montreal)
(fact-finding)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,400 Transportation and Communications $ 2,417 All Other Expenditures $ 1,500 Total for Activity $ 15,317 ACTIVITY 2: Sunnybrook Hospital (Toronto) (fact-finding)
Professional and Other Services $ 1,300 Transportation and Communications $ 3,917 All Other Expenditures $ 1,500 Total for Activity $ 26,717
ACTIVITY 3: Walter Reed Army Medical Centre
(Washington, D.C.) (fact-finding)
Professional and Other Services $ 900 Transportation and Communications $ 3,917 All Other Expenditures $ 1,500 Total for Activity $ 36,317 Respectfully submitted,
FERNAND ROBICHAUD
Chair
Senator Robichaud made a presentation regarding the allocation of committee budgets for 2008-09.
He stated that, $3.35 million were available for distribution to committees at the beginning of the fiscal year and that, to date, some $3.4 million have been released. Historical spending patterns indicate that committees generally did not spend more than 70 per cent of the funds allocated to them. Therefore, the subcommittee was prepared to release somewhat more than the funds in the budget. However, the subcommittee also wanted to be sure that there would funds available for requests that it expected would be submitted later in the fiscal year.
In reviewing the budgets from the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, Senator Robichaud stated that the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets was guided by the same principles that it applied to other budgets.
If the subcommittee's recommendations were adopted, a total of some $3.7 million would have been released to committees and as activities are completed, surplus funds would be clawed back and available for redistribution.
Senator Robichaud answered questions.
After debate, it was agreed that the Eighth Report of the subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets be adopted as presented.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
In response to questions raised by the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, it was clarified that even though a decision on a budget submission were recommended by the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets and adopted by the Internal Economy Committee, nothing would preclude a committee chair from going back to the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets for additional funds during the fiscal year.
At 8:57 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
At 9:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 5, 2008
(14)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera at 8:41 a.m. this day, the chair, the Honourable George J. Furey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Downe, Furey, Goldstein, Jaffer, Massicotte, Nancy Ruth, Phalen, Prud'homme, P.C., Stollery and Stratton (12).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dawson and Nolin (2).
At 9:22 a.m., the committee continued in public.
IE/2008/06-05/084(P) — Senator St. Germain: Application for International Travel
The chair informed the committee that Senator St. Germain was unable to appear before the committee this morning and asked that his application to travel to Crow Agency and Browning, Montana, from August 13 to 20, 2008 be considered.
At 9:25 a.m., the committee resumed in camera.
At 9:54 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 10, 2008
(15)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera at 9:02 a.m. this day, the chair, the Honourable George J. Furey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Dawson, Furey, Jaffer, Kinsella, Nancy Ruth, Prud'homme, P.C., Robichaud, P.C., and Stratton (10).
At 9:50 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 17, 2008
(16)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met at 9:03 a.m. this day, the chair, the Honourable George J. Furey, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Comeau, Cook, Furey, Jaffer, Nancy Ruth, Robichaud, P.C., and Stratton (7).
IE/2008-06-17/097(P) — Ninth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets
The chair of the subcommittee, Senator Robichaud, presented the Ninth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets as follows:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
NINTH REPORT
Your Subcommittee recommends the release of the following amount for fiscal year 2008-2009:
Banking, Trade and Commerce (legislation)
Professional and Other Services $ 28,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 8,000 Total $ 36,000 Respectfully submitted,
FERNAND ROBICHAUD
Chair
After debate, it was agreed that the Ninth Report of the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets be adopted as presented.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
At 9:06 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Catherine Pearl-Côté
Director of the Executive Secretariat and Recording Secretary