Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators

Moved the adoption of the report.

She said: Honourable senators, this report was adopted by your Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, pursuant to an order of reference received on May 8 following the adoption of Government Motion No. 165 by the Senate. That motion was proposed by the Government Representative in the Senate, and amended rule 12-26(1) of the Rules of the Senate to add the leader or facilitator of the recognized party or recognized parliamentary group with the most members — other than the government or the opposition — to propose the membership of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators in a new session. Government Motion No. 165 included an instruction to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators to present a report to the Senate within 30 days of the adoption of the motion to propose changes to the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators in order to take account of the amendments to rule 12-26(1). This report fulfills the committee’s obligation exactly as specified in the motion by making the exact same change to section 35(5) of the code. I would say that given the motion was initiated by the Government Representative, I would suggest that he is best placed to answer any further questions regarding the justification or rationale behind this change. Thank you.