THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, May 2, 2024
(34)

[English]

  The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera and then proceeded in public, this day at 9:02 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Lucie Moncion, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C., Cormier, Dalphond, Dean, Francis, Loffreda, MacAdam, MacDonald, Moncion, Moodie, Plett, Quinn, Saint-Germain, Seidman, and Smith (15).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Al Zaibak, Oudar and Tannas (3).

Participating in the meeting: Pascale Legault, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Gérald Lafrenière, Interim Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments and Chief Legislative Services Officer; Philippe Hallée, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; senior Senate officials and other support staff.

Pursuant to rule 12-7(1) of the Rules of the Senate, the committee continued its consideration of financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate’s internal administration.

At 10:38 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:39 a.m., the committee resumed in public.

The chair made a statement.

The senators introduced themselves.

CIBA/2024-05-02/384(P) — Consent Agenda

The chair made a statement regarding the consent agenda.

After debate, the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain moved that the consent agenda, which is comprised of the following items, be adopted:

• Minutes of Proceedings from April 11, 2024 (In Public);
• Minutes of Proceedings from April 11, 2024 (In Camera);
• Request for Proposal — Interpretation Services for Travelling Committees.

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

CIBA/2024-05-02/385(P) — For Information Items sent via Email

The chair made a statement regarding items sent via email to member for information purposes.

CIBA/2024-05-02/386(P) — Amendments to the Senate Administrative Rules

The chair made a statement regarding the proposed amendments to the Senate Administrative Rules in light of the return of the one-clerk model.

Philippe Hallée answered questions.

After debate, it was agreed that the proposed amendments to the Senate Administrative Rules be agreed to and that the chair present a report in the Senate proposing the amendments to the Senate.

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

CIBA/2024-05-02/387(P) — Other Matters

The Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., made a statement congratulating Shaila Anwar for her appointment as clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments.

The chair informed members that the steering committee examined the issues surrounding the protocol for Senate travel devices service offering and a decision was made to maintain that the status quo.

The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain made a statement to recognize the outstanding contribution of Gérald Lafrenière during his tenure as Interim Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments.

The Honourable Senator Quinn raised concerns regarding the service plans for Senate phone devices.

The chair took the matter under advisement.

At 10:51 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Pascale Legault

Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Keli Hogan

Recording Secretary