Proceedings of the Special Senate Committee on Aging
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 12, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Aging met this day at 8:30 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carstairs, P.C., Chaput, Cordy, Keon and Mercer (5).
In attendance: Julie Cool, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Keon moved that the Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., be 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 this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer 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 designed 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 schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That the committee print copies of its proceedings and that the chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cordy 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 Chaput moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts 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 Cordy moved:
That, pursuant to 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;
That, pursuant to 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; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Keon 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 Mercer 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; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Chaput moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness 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 committee proceeded to discuss a draft agenda.
It was agreed that the clerk send the draft English report to translation.
It was agreed that each committee member be allowed to have staff present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
At 8:37 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Monday, March 9, 2009
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on Aging met in camera this day at 12:34 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carstairs, P.C., Chaput, Cordy, Keon, Mercer and Stratton (6).
In attendance: Julie Cool, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the committee continued consideration of the implications of an aging society in Canada.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee considered a draft report.
It was agreed that the following special study budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Professional and other services $ 7,800
Transportation and Communications 400
All other expenditures 800
TOTAL $ 9,000
It was agreed that the committee hire Michelle MacDonald for the purpose of editing and revising the committee's English final report.
At 1:46 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Keli Hogan
Clerk of the Committee