THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs met this day at 12 p.m. [ET], pursuant to rule 12-13 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Ericka Paajanen, Clerk of the Subcommittee: Honourable senators, as clerk of your subcommittee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Are there any nominations?
Senator Patterson: I would like to nominate Senator Anderson as chair.
Ms. Paajanen: It is moved by the Honourable Senator Patterson:
That the Honourable Senator Anderson do take chair of this subcommittee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Paajanen: Thank you. I declare the motion carried, and I invite the Honourable Senator Anderson to take the chair.
Senator Dawn Anderson (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Before I proceed, I would like to take a moment to remind senators of the audio feedback prevention guidelines that must be observed by all in-person participants. Please consult the cards placed on the committee tables for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents. Keep earpieces away from all microphones at all times. Microphones must not be touched; activation and deactivation will be managed by the console operator. Avoid handling your earpieces while the microphone is active. Earpieces should either remain on the ear or be placed on the designated sticker at each seat. Thank you for your cooperation.
We will now proceed to the election of the deputy chair. I’m ready to receive motions to that effect.
Are there any nominations?
Senator Patterson: I would like to nominate Senator Ince for deputy chair.
The Chair: The Honourable Senator Patterson moved:
That the Honourable Senator Ince be deputy chair of the subcommittee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried. Welcome aboard.
We now have some routine motions to adopt, the first pertaining to the powers of the chair and the deputy chair. Do I have a mover for this motion?
Senator Muggli: I so move.
The Chair: The Honourable Senator Muggli moved:
That the chair and deputy chair be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and to schedule hearings.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Senator Patterson: May I ask a question of the chair first before we go to adoption?
I fully support your ability to set the agenda. My assumption is that we will continue to have consultations with the rest of the group before the agenda is set. Is that correct?
The Chair: That is my understanding. It’s a very small group, and collaboration works best in a group.
Senator Patterson: Thank you. I completely agree with this motion.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
The next motion pertains to publishing subcommittee proceedings. Who would like to move this motion? The Honourable Senator MacAdam moved:
That the subcommittee publish its proceedings.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
I declare the motion carried.
Do I have a mover for motion 5 relating to research staff? The Honourable Senator Ince moved:
That the subcommittee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the subcommittee;
That the chair and deputy chair be authorized to retain the services of experts as may be required by the work of the subcommittee; and
That the chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The motion is carried.
I would now like to introduce the subcommittee analyst, Diana Ambrozas.
Do I have a mover for motion 6, authorizing the chair and deputy chair to commit funds and certify accounts?
Senator Muggli: I so move.
The Chair: The Honourable Senator Muggli moved:
That, pursuant to section 6(1), chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair and the clerk of the subcommittee;
That, pursuant to section 7(1), chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the subcommittee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chair, and the clerk of the subcommittee; 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 chair.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
Motion 7 deals with the power to designate members to travel on assignment of the subcommittee’s behalf. Who would like to move this motion?
The Honourable Senator MacAdam moved:
That the subcommittee empower the chair and deputy chair to designate, as required, one or more members of the subcommittee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the subcommittee. .
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
Motion 8 deals with the power to determine whether any members of the subcommittee is on official business for the purposes of the Senators Attendance Policy. Who would like to move this motion?
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved:
That the chair and deputy be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the subcommittee is on “official business” for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the subcommittee to be on “official business” if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the subcommittee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the subcommittee; and
That the chair and deputy chair report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the subcommittee travelling on subcommittee business.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried. Do I have a mover for motion 9, authorizing the subcommittee to reimburse witnesses for expenses related to their appearance before us?
The Honourable Senator Ince moved:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the subcommittee may reimburse reasonable expenses related to the appearance 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.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried.
Our final motion, motion 10, empowers the direction of communication officers and coverage by electronic media. Do I have a mover for this motion?
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved:
That the chair and deputy chair be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the subcommittee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications, Broadcasting and Publications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work; and
That the chair and deputy chair be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the subcommittee’s public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its proceedings, at its discretion.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I declare the motion carried. The communications officer assigned to the subcommittee is Sabrina Lemieux.
Colleagues, this brings us to the final item before adjournment, “other business.” As a reminder, the time slot for regular meetings is Wednesday at 12 p.m. in room B-45. I propose that our next meeting take place in camera to discuss future work. Is there agreement? Thank you.
Before we adjourn, I just want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to chair, and I look forward to working with each and every one of you on issues that matter to veterans.
Senator Muggli: Are we it?
Senator Patterson: Is Senator McNair also joining us? He’s a stalwart.
Senator Muggli: So there will be six of us. Okay.
The Chair: Small and mighty.
Senator Muggli: And the meetings will be one hour? Okay, thank you.
An Hon. Senator: What is quorum for this committee? Is it three? Okay.
The Chair: This brings us to the end of our meeting. I’d like to thank you for your participation today, and I look forward to a productive session.
(The committee adjourned.)