THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RULES, PROCEDURES AND THE RIGHTS OF PARLIAMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 28, 2024
(42)

[English]

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day at 9:36 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Diane Bellemare, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Ataullahjan, Audette, Batters, Bellemare, Busson, Kutcher, MacDonald, Mégie, Omidvar, Ringuette, Saint-Germain, Wells and Woo (13).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Al Zaibak (1).

Participating in the meeting: François Delisle, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to rule 12-7(2)(c), the committee continued consideration of the orders and practices of the Senate and the privileges of Parliament. (Subject: Committee meeting schedule)

WITNESS:

Senate of Canada:

Shaila Anwar, Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments.

Shaila Anwar answered questions.

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved that the attached new schedule herewith for Senate standing committees be agreed to be started in September 2024 as a pilot project for the duration of this Parliament; and that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament review the effectiveness of this pilot project in May and June 2025 with defined criteria and comparative committee statistics, among other things.

After debate, it was agreed that the motion be withdrawn.

The Honourable Senator Woo moved that the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament instruct the clerk to prepare a report summarizing the discussions on the topic of the schedule of committees and include in the report the proposed revised schedule that has been offered as a pilot project beginning in September and running for nine months in 2024.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senators

Audette, Busson, Kutcher, Mégie, Omidvar, Ringuette, Saint-Germain, Woo — [8]

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

Ataullahjan, Batters, MacDonald, Wells — [4]

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

Bellemare — [1]

At 10:54 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee