Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the following report:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its

FIFTEENTH REPORT

Your committee, which is authorized by the Rules of the Senate to consider financial and administrative matters, now reports that it has reviewed the Senate Administrative Rules and recommends the following amendments:

1. Chapter 2:06: Replace section 16 with the following:

“16 (1) After consulting with the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, the Clerk of the Senate may make representations in respect of

(a) a third-party notice given under section 27 of the Access to Information Act; and

(b) any similar notice from the head of a government institution that provides the Senate with an opportunity to make representations about the head’s intent to disclose records under the Access to Information Act.

(2) If the notice indicates that the head of a government institution intends to disclose an unpublished record or unpublished information about a Senator or an unpublished record or unpublished information in which the Senator is identifiable, the Clerk must advise the Senator before making representations.

(3) If the notice indicates that the head of a government institution intends to disclose an unpublished record or unpublished information about the responsibilities of a House Officer or a committee chair, the Clerk must advise the House Officer or committee chair, as the case may be, before making representations.

(4) If the notice indicates that the head of a government institution intends to disclose an unpublished record or unpublished information about a former Senator or an unpublished record or unpublished information in which a former Senator is identifiable, the Clerk must make all reasonable efforts to advise the former Senator before making representations.

(5) In making representations under subsection (1) about records or information forming part of a committee’s proceedings, the Clerk

(a) will not object to the disclosure of any records or information already published or authorized for release to the public;

(b) must object to the disclosure of any records or information that form part of an in camera proceeding or would otherwise reveal the content of such a proceeding, unless an appropriate body authorizes their disclosure;

(c) must, for records or information not described in paragraph (a) or (b), consult with

(i) the committee whose proceedings are subject to the notice,

(ii) the successor committee — if one exists — if the records form part of the proceedings of a committee from a previous session of Parliament, or

(iii) if neither subparagraph (i) nor (ii) applies, the Speaker of the Senate.”.

Respectfully submitted,

LUCIE MONCION

Chair