Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

Issue 1 - First Report of the Committee

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament has the honour to table its

FIRST REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to rule 104(2), that the expenses incurred for that purpose during the Second Session of the Fortieth Parliament were as follows:

Transportation and Communications	$ —
Professional and Other Services	548
All Other Expenditures	—
Witness Expenses	—
TOTAL	$ 548

During the session under consideration, your committee considered four orders of reference, and held 28 meetings. In total, your committee produced seven reports. At prorogation, your committee had yet to report on its orders of reference with respect to the broadcasting of Senate proceedings and the Senate committee system as well as its self- initiated study pertaining to revised Rules of the Senate.

In its First Report, tabled in the Senate on February 24, 2009, your committee reported on its expenses and activities in the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament, pursuant to rule 104.

The Second Report of your committee, which was presented to the Senate on March 11, 2009, recommended amendments to the Rules of the Senate to provide for a mechanism for the reinstatement of bills from the previous session of the same Parliament. The report was debated in the Senate, but was not adopted.

Your committee's Third Report recommended amendments to the Rules of the Senate in respect of questions of privilege. The report was presented on May 12, 2009, and was debated but not adopted by the Senate.

The Fourth Report of your committee dealt with a question of privilege in respect of an erroneous statement concerning the proceedings of the Senate on a Government of Canada website. The report was presented on May 13, 2009, and adopted on June 23, 2009.

Your committee's Fifth Report recommended amendments to the Rules of the Senate consequential to amendments made to Conflict of Interest Code for Senators during the previous Parliament. The report was presented on May 27, 2009, and was adopted on October 7, 2009.

In its Sixth Report, your committee examined the rules and practices of the Senate with respect to committee member replacements. It recommended no changes in this respect at this time. The report was tabled on October 8, 2009, and adopted on November 4, 2009.

The Seventh Report of your committee recommended a new practice with respect to the printing of the Rules of the Senate and the updating of the on-line version of the Rules of the Senate. The report was presented on October 27, 2009, and adopted on November 4, 2009.

Respectfully submitted,

DAVID P. SMITH

Chair