THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, December 2, 2021
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met with videoconference this day at 9:01 p.m. [ET], pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Pascale Legault, Clerk of the Committee, Senate of Canada: Honourable senators, I would like to welcome everyone to the organization meeting of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
As clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Campbell: I would like to nominate Senator Sabi Marwah as chair of CIBA.
Ms. Legault: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Campbell that the Honourable Senator Marwah do take the chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Legault: I declare the motion carried. I invite the Honourable Senator Marwah to take the chair.
Senator Sabi Marwah (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Colleagues, thank you very much for electing me as your chair. I consider it a privilege to be the chair, and I look forward to working with all of you in running this committee as efficiently and as transparently as I possibly can.
Before we begin the organizational elements, I would like to apologize for calling the meeting this late, especially after a long sitting day. We just felt that tomorrow would be worse because a lot of senators would be travelling, and we didn’t want to wait until Monday just in case we needed some action taken over the weekend. My apologies once again, but I promise it won’t be a long meeting.
Colleagues, given that we have several motions to consider for this evening, is it agreed that the motions be adopted by a voice vote?
Since we are meeting in a hybrid format, I would ask only those senators who disagree with the motion to say “nay” when asked. This will help us in determining if a full roll-call vote is required. Are there any objections to this approach, colleagues?
Seeing no objections, we will proceed with a voice vote for the motions on the agenda.
The next order of business is the election of the deputy chairs. Pursuant to the motion adopted by the Senate on November 25, 2021, the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration is empowered to elect three deputy chairs.
Are there any nominations?
Senator Martin: Congratulations. I know you will do a fine job. I’d like to nominate Senator Larry Smith as one of the deputy chairs.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Martin that the Honourable Senator Larry Smith be the deputy chair of the committee. Honourable senators, in order to determine if this motion is adopted, may I ask any of those who oppose to say “nay.”
Seeing no “nays,” I declare the motion carried.
Are there any other nominations?
[Translation]
Senator Forest: I nominate Senator Dennis Dawson for deputy chair.
[English]
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Forest that the Honourable Senator Dawson be the deputy chair of this committee.
May I ask all those who oppose to say “nay.” I declare the motion carried.
Are there any nominations for the last position of deputy chair?
Senator Moncion: I will nominate Senator Scott Tannas.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Moncion that the Honourable Senator Tannas be the deputy chair of this committee. Are there any objections, colleagues?
Senator Tannas: Yes, I object. I will not serve as deputy chair, and I’d like to nominate Senator Campbell as deputy chair.
The Chair: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Tannas that the Honourable Senator Campbell be the deputy chair of this committee.
Any objections, colleagues? I declare the motion carried. Thank you, all.
The next motion is on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure. Can I have a mover for the motion in front of you? I will read the motion out before we vote:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair and the three deputy chairs;
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; and
That, if the committee is unable to meet, the subcommittee be authorized to deal with and resolve immediate administrative matters, and that it report its decisions at the first meeting thereafter.
Senator Marshall moves the motion. Are there any objections, colleagues? I declare the motion carried.
Next is item 4, which is a motion for the publication of the committee’s proceedings. Can I have a mover for the following motion:
That the committee publish its proceedings.
Senator Housakos moves the motion. Are there any objections, colleagues? I declare the motion carried.
The next item is the motion for steering or CIBA to have authority to commit funds and certify accounts. I will read the motion out:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, and the clerk of the committee;
That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, 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 chairs.
Could I have a mover for that motion, please? Senator Housakos moves the motion. Any objections, colleagues? Seeing no objections, I declare the motion carried.
The next motion, item 6, concerns the travel and accommodation expenses of witnesses. It says:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travel and accommodation expenses of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.
Could I have a mover for that motion? Senator Tannas moves the motion. Are there any objections, colleagues? I declare the motion carried.
The next motion concerns the ability to broadcast our proceedings. I will read the motion:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure request coverage by electronic media of the committee’s public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its proceedings.
May I have a mover for that, colleagues? Senator Campbell moves the motion. Any objections, colleagues? Seeing none, I declare the motion carried.
The last motion is to approve transcripts of in camera meetings, and the motion is:
That the committee request the transcription of the in camera portion of meetings and that a confidential copy be kept with the clerk of the committee.
Could I have a senator move the motion, please? Senator Boyer moves the motion. Any objections, colleagues? Seeing none, I declare the motion carried.
Colleagues, the last item is the time slot for regular meetings of CIBA. I would remind members that the regular hybrid meeting time is Thursdays from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Are there any other matters senators wish to raise? If not, we will now adjourn. Thank you all for making the time this evening. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.
(The committee adjourned.)