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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 7, 2025
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[English]

The Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament met this day at 9:30 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Peter Harder, P.C., presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Burey, Downe, Harder, P.C., McNair, Petitclerc, Saint-Germain, Surette, Tannas, Wells (Alberta), White, Youance and Yussuff (13).

Participating in the meeting: Joëlle Nadeau, Principal Clerk and Madgina Mesidor, Legislative Clerk, Chamber Operations and Procedure Office; François Delisle and Erin Virgint, Analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the committee continued its study on the inclusion of provisions relating to Question Period with a minister into the Rules of the Senate, including recommendations for amendments.

WITNESSES:

Independent Senators Group:

The Honourable Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain, Facilitator.

Canadian Senators Group:

The Honourable Senator Scott Tannas, Leader.

Progressive Senate Group:

The Honourable Senator Judy A. White, Deputy Leader.

The Honourable Senators Saint-Germain, Tannas and White each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:36 a.m., the committee suspended.

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

The committee discussed a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed that the call for comments deadline would be extended by a week.

It was agreed that the Honourable Senators Pierre Moreau, P.C., and Claude Carignan, P.C., would appear before the committee as part of this study on October 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

It was agreed that the Honourable Marc Gold, P.C., former Government Representative in the Senate and the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, will be invited to appear as part of this study on October 21 or 28, 2025.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee pursuant to rule 12-7(2) during the First Session of the Forty-fourth Parliament be referred to the committee.

At 10:55 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee