THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 30, 2026
(12)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (CIBA) met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Ataullahjan, Boehm, Boyer, Francis, Henkel, Housakos, Loffreda, MacAdam, Mohamed, Moodie, Osler, Oudar, Quinn, and Tannas (14).
Participating in the meeting: Shaila Anwar, Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments; Marie-Ève Belzile, Deputy Clerk, Legislative Services; Pascale Legault, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Julie Wellington, 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.
The chair made a statement.
The senators introduced themselves.
CIBA/2026-04-30/124(P) — Consent Agenda
The chair made a statement regarding the consent agenda and advised members that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure decided to pause the transition to the Microsoft Team phones for senators’ offices, and that the matter will be discussed further at a future meeting of CIBA.
The Honourable Senator Henkel moved that the consent agenda, which is comprised of the following items, be adopted:
- Minutes of Proceedings from April 16, 2026 (In Public);
- Minutes of Proceedings from April 16, 2026 (In Camera).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2026-04-30/125(P) — Letter from Senator Tannas related to the Victoria Forum
It was agreed that this item would be discussed during the in camera portion of the meeting.
CIBA/2026-04-30/126(P) — Requests for an Exception to the Senators’ Office Management Policy for Living Expenses
The chair made a statement regarding requests from five senators for an exception to the Senator’s Office Management Policy to increase their living expenses budget for 2025—26 fiscal year.
After debate, it was agreed that decisions on this item would be deferred to the next CIBA meeting. It was further agreed that the five senators would be asked to submit further details concerning their claims, and would be invited to present their claims in person at the next meeting of CIBA.
CIBA/2026-04-30/127(P) — Creation of the Subcommittee on Diversity
The Honourable Senator Moodie made a statement regarding the creation of the Subcommittee on Diversity.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Moodie moved:
That a Subcommittee on Diversity be established and authorized to examine and report on issues of diversity in the Senate workforce;
That the composition of the subcommittee be as follows: two Honourable Senators from the Independent Senators Group (ISG); one Honourable Senator from the Canadian Senators Group (CSG); one Honourable Senator from the Conservative Party of Canada; and one Honourable Senator from the Progressive Senate Group (PSG);
That the following senators be named as members of the subcommittee:
- The Honourable Senator Moodie;
- The Honourable Senator Boyer;
- The Honourable Senator Osler;
- The Honourable Senator Ataullahjan; and
- The Honourable Senator Henkel;
That the subcommittee be required to report to the committee from time to time; and
That the mandate respecting diversity in the Senate workforce be removed from the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
After further debate, it was agreed that additional consultation is required and that a decision on the motion would be deferred to the next meeting of CIBA.
CIBA/2026-04-30/128(P) — For Information - Item sent via email
The chair made a statement regarding the items that were sent via email to members for information purposes:
Quarterly Report (Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2026) on Senate Intellectual Property Requests for Commercial Use
Update on Bluesky Social Media Platform
Social Media — Proposed New Strategic Orientation
CIBA/2026-04-30/129(P) — Other Matters
The chair made a statement regarding the report of the Subcommittee on Senate Estimates and Committee Budgets on coordinated travel and the Joint Interparliamentary Council’s recommendation concerning travel to the United States.
After debate, it was agreed that both matters be referred to the Working Group on Policy for further consideration, with the goal of receiving a report by September 30, 2026.
At 8:56 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:59 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1), the committee resumed in camera.
At 10:04 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
Chloé O’Shaughnessy
Acting Recording Secretary