Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators

Pursuant to notice of May 28, 2025, moved:

That, notwithstanding rules 12-3(2)(f) and 12-26(1) and subsections 35(2), (4), (5) and (8) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the Honourable Senators Boniface, Busson, Carignan, P.C., Harder, P.C., Seidman and Smith be appointed to serve on the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, until such time as a motion pursuant to rule 12-26(1) is adopted by the Senate or the Senate otherwise replaces the membership of the committee;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-26(2) and subsection 35(2) of the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, the quorum of the committee be four members;

That, notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, following the retirement of the Honourable Senator Seidman, she not be replaced as a member of the committee, which from that time have five members, of whom three constitute the quorum;

That, notwithstanding rule 12-26(1), for the duration of the membership of the committee pursuant to this order, when a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee, the replacement member be appointed by order of the Senate;

That the committee be authorized to meet even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto; and

That the committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings or meetings entirely by videoconference, with the following provisions applying in relation to such meetings:

1.all members of the committee participating count towards quorum;

2.such meetings be considered to be occurring in the parliamentary precinct, irrespective of where participants may be located, subject to point 4(a);

3.the committee be directed to approach in camera meetings with the utmost caution and all necessary precautions, taking account of the risks to the confidentiality of in camera proceedings inherent in such technologies;

4.subject to variations that may be required by the circumstances, to participate in a meeting of the committee by videoconference senators must:

(a)participate from a designated office or designated residence within Canada;

(b)use a device and a headset with integrated microphone provided by the Senate and authorized for videoconferences with interpretation;

(c)be the only people visible during the videoconference;

(d)have their video on and broadcasting their image at all times, unless the meeting is suspended; and

(e)leave the videoconference if they leave their seat, unless the meeting is suspended; and

5.if the committee holds a hybrid or videoconference meeting in public, the provisions of rule 14-7(2) be applied so as to allow recording or broadcasting through facilities arranged by the Clerk of the Senate, and, if such a meeting cannot be broadcast live, the committee be considered to have fulfilled any obligations under the Rules relating to public meetings by making any available recording publicly available as soon as possible thereafter.