THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2026
(1)
[English]
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs met this day at 12 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, for the purpose of its organization.
Members of the subcommittee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Ince, MacAdam, Muggli and Patterson (5).
Participating in the meeting: Diana Ambrozas, Analyst, Library of Parliament; Sabryna Lemieux, Communications Officer, Communications, Broadcasting and Publications Directorate.
The clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that the Honourable Senator Anderson do take the chair of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited the Honourable Senator Anderson to take the chair.
The chair presided over the election of the deputy chair.
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that the Honourable Senator Ince be deputy chair of the subcommittee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator MacAdam moved that the subcommittee publish its proceedings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved:
That the chair and deputy chair 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The subcommittee discussed a draft agenda (future business).
At 12:09 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ericka Paajanen
Clerk of the Subcommittee