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

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 21, 2011
(1)

[English]

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day, at 10:37 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 Braley, Brown, Comeau, Duffy, Fraser, Furey, Greene, Joyal, P.C., McCoy, Smith, P.C. (Cobourg), and Stratton (11).

In attendance: Sebastian Spano, 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 Stratton moved:

That the Honourable Senator Smith, P.C. (Cobourg), 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, P.C. (Cobourg), assumed the chair.

The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.

The Honourable Senator Furey moved:

That the Honourable Senator Braley be deputy chair of this committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Fraser 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 Braley moved:

That the committee publish its proceedings; and

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Comeau 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 Greene 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 Duffy 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 Joyal, P.C. 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 Fraser 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 Comeau 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 Furey 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 Stratton 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 question being put on the motion, as amended, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Fraser moved:

That a subcommittee composed of Honourable Senators Carignan, Fraser and Stratton be appointed to review the Rules of the Senate.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Comeau moved that the committee do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Accordingly, at 10:52 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Charles Robert

Clerk of the Committee