Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 11, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:30 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Chaput, Day, De Bané, P.C., Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Greene, Mitchell, Neufeld and Ringuette (11).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean-François Nadeau, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator De Bané moved that the Honourable Senator Day do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Day took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Day moved that the Honourable Senator Gerstein be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mitchell 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 designated 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 to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Day moved:
That the Honourable Senator Ringuette be the third member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Di Nino moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., 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 Callbeck moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report prepared in accordance with rule 104(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Neufeld moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee;
That the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills, and estimates as are referred to it;
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.
After debate, the Honourable Senator De Bané moved:
That the motion be amended by adding, after the words ``draft reports,'' ``and that these materials be shared with all members of the committee.''
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
Debate resumed on the motion of the Honourable Senator Neufeld, as amended.
The question being put on the motion, as amended, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck 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 Ringuette 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 Chaput 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 an 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 De Bané 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 Honourable Senator Ringuette moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair made a statement with respect to the future business of the committee.
After debate, it was agreed that the committee proceed immediately to consideration of Supplementary Estimates (B), 2008-09, and invite officials from the Treasury Board Secretariat to the table.
At 6:50 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the committee began its examination of the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
WITNESSES:
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Alister Smith, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;
Brian Pagan, Executive Director, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.
Mr. Smith made a presentation and, together with Mr. Pagan, answered questions.
At 8:17 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 24, 2009
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:30 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Callbeck, Chaput, Day, De Bané, P.C., Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld and Ringuette (11).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean-François Nadeau, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
WITNESSES:
Transport Canada:
Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister of Transport and Deputy Head, Infrastructure Canada;
André Morency, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management and Crown Corporation Governance.
Infrastructure Canada:
John Forster, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Communications Branch;
David Cluff, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Alister Smith, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;
Brian Pagan, Executive Director, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.
Mr. Ranger made a statement and, together with Messrs. Morency, Forster and Cluff, answered questions.
At 10:35 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:38 a.m., the committee resumed.
Messrs. Smith and Mr. Pagan answered questions.
At 11:39 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 25, 2009
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, in camera, at 6:30 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Chaput, Day, De Bané, P.C., Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Mitchell, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Ringuette and Rivard (12).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean-François Nadeau, 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, February 10, 2009, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee commenced in camera to consider a draft report.
After debate, it was agreed:
That the draft report, as modified, be adopted;
That the steering committee be authorized to make editorial revisions without altering the intent of the text and to approve the final text; and
That the chair present the report at the next sitting of the Senate.
At 7:22 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:24 p.m., the committee resumed in public.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, the committee began its examination of the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
WITNESSES:
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Alister Smith, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;
Brian Pagan, Executive Director, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.
Mr. Smith made a presentation and, with Mr. Pagan, answered questions.
At 8:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee