Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 14, 2011
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9:32 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Marshall, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Oliver, Ringuette, Rivard and Runciman (11)
In attendance: John Bulmer, Sylvain Fleury and Alex Smith, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Jean-Pierre Morin, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Gerstein 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 Ringuette 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 Neufeld 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 Callbeck 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 Ringuette 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 Gerstein moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
After debate, 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Oliver 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Rivard 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 Eggleton, 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 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Marshall 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Gerstein 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.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the committee of the time slots for meetings.
The committee considered future business.
Mr. Alex Smith provided the committee with a background briefing on the use of Governor General's Special Warrants.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 9, 2011, the committee began its examination of the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.
WITNESS:
Office of the National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman:
Ms. Mary McFadyen, General Counsel.
Ms. McFadyen made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:15 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee