Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:

That the report be amended by adding the following at the end of proposed new rule 1-1(3):

“in order to facilitate the senator’s participation in proceedings in the Senate Chamber or in the committee room, as the case may be”.

Thank you.

Would Senator Batters accept a question?

Yes.

What is the reason for this amendment and why are you moving it today?

We’re presenting it today because this issue has been before the Senate for a while, but we wanted to make sure that this report, with some smaller changes, is handled before the end of this month. This amendment is necessary to clarify that the rule that is being amended here can’t be used to allow a senator to demand to use hybrid to access a committee or chamber. They do have to be in Ottawa. So it just makes that clarification.