Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 16, 2010
(1)
[Français]
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, at 9:34 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 Brown, Carignan, Carstairs, P.C., Cools, Duffy, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Keon, Ogilvie, Oliver, Smith, P.C., Stratton and Wallace (13).
In attendance: Sebastian Spano and Michel Bédard, Analysts, 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 Carignan moved:
That the Honourable Senator Smith do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited the chair elect to take the chair.
The Honourable Senator Smith assumed the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., moved:
That the Honourable Senator Stratton be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., 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 schedule hearings.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Oliver moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number of printed copies to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication 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 Stratton 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 Brown 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Wallace 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 Carignan 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 Joyal, P.C., 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 the members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., 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 Ogilvie moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of their development and implementation;
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 committee considered its business.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs, P.C., moved:
That this committee meet on Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and that the second meeting be determined by discussions between the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure and the whips of both parties.
The Honourable Senator Cools moved that the motion be amended by adding, at the end the words ``, noting that the committee has shown a strong preference for meeting at noon on Wednesdays.''
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The question being put on the motion, as amended, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fraser moved that the committee do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:02 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 30, 2010
(2)
[Français]
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, in camera, at 9:36 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, Cools, Duffy, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Ogilvie, Smith, P.C., Tkachuk and Wallace (9).
In attendance: Michel Bédard and Sebastian Spano, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
In accordance with rule 92(2)(e), the committee discussed its future business.
At 10:37 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 13, 2010
(3)
[Français]
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, in camera, at 9:35 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Carignan, Carstairs, P.C., Cools, Duffy, Fraser, Joyal, P.C., Smith, P.C., Tkachuk and Wallace (10).
In attendance: Michel Bédard and Sebastian Spano, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
In accordance with rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered its business.
It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room.
It was moved:
That a subcommittee be appointed to review the Rules of the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:26 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 27, 2010
(4)
[Français]
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, in camera, at 9:35 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Brown, Carignan, Cools, Duffy, Fraser, Greene, Joyal, P.C., Keon, Mahovlich, McCoy, Ogilvie, Smith, P.C., Stratton and Wallace (14).
In attendance: Michel Bédard and Kristen Douglas, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 86(1)(f)(i), the committee proceeded to consider a draft report on the notice requirements for questions of privilege.
It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room.
Amendments were agreed to.
It was moved that the report, as amended, be approved and that the chair be authorized to present the report in the chamber.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:50 a.m., the committee continued in public.
The Honourable Senator Stratton moved:
That the Subcommittee to Review the Rules of the Senate established by the committee on April 13, 2010, be composed of the Honourable Senators Carignan, Carstairs, P.C., Fraser, Oliver and Stratton, three of whom shall constitute a quorum.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:55 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 4, 2010
(5)
[Français]
The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, in camera, at 9:32 a.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Duffy, Fraser, Greene, Joyal, P.C., Mockler, Ogilvie, Smith, P.C., Stratton and Wallace (10).
In attendance: Michel Bédard and Sebastian Spano, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
It was agreed that senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room.
Pursuant to rule 86(1)(f)(i), the committee considered a draft report on the reinstatement of bills.
It was moved:
That the draft report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was negatived.
The committee considered its business.
At 10:02 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Charles Robert
Clerk of the Committee