Journals of the Senate
46 Elizabeth II, A.D. 1997, Canada
Journals of the Senate
Issue 14
Thursday, October 30, 1997
2:00 p.m.
The Honourable Gildas L. Molgat, Speaker
The Members convened were:
The Honourable Senators
Adams, Andreychuk, Atkins, Balfour, Beaudoin, Berntson, Bolduc, Bonnell, Bosa, Buchanan, Butts, Callbeck, Carstairs, Cogger, Cohen, Comeau, Cools, Corbin, DeWare, Di Nino, Doody, Doyle, Fairbairn, Ferretti Barth, Forest, Forrestall, Ghitter, Gigantès, Grafstein, Graham, Grimard, Haidasz, Hays, Hébert, Jessiman, Kenny, Kinsella, Kirby, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Losier-Cool, Lynch-Staunton, MacDonald, Maheu, Mercier, Milne, Molgat, Moore, Murray, Nolin, Perrault, Petten, Phillips, Poulin, Prud'homme, Rivest, Roberge, Robichaud, (L'Acadie-Acadia), Robichaud, (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rompkey, Rossiter, Simard, Sparrow, Spivak, Stewart, Stollery, Stratton, Taylor, Tkachuk, Watt, Whelan
PRAYERS
SENATORS' STATEMENTS
Some Honourable Senators made statements.DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
The Honourable the Speaker informed the Senate that the Clerk of the Senate had tabled the following:Statement of the Clerks Receipts and Disbursements for the fiscal year 1996-97, pursuant to Rule 133.-Sessional Paper No. 1\36-215S.
Presentation of Reports from Standing or Special Committees
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., presented the following:THURSDAY, October 30, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
THIRD REPORT
Your Committee has agreed that the following guidelines regarding witnesses' expenses be adopted:1. The budget for witnesses' expenses be set at the Committees Directorate level. In their reports on sessional expenses pursuant to Rule 104, Committees will report how much was spent on witnesses' expenses although charged elsewhere in the Senate's administrative budget.
2. Witnesses have sixty (60) days from the date of their appearance to submit travel claims for payment. Failure to submit such claims within sixty days will result in non-payment. However, in exceptional circumstances, a Chair of a Committee will be empowered to extend the deadline.Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chair
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bonnell, that the Report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., presented the following:THURSDAY, October 30, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your Committee recommends the adoption of a Supplementary Estimate of $4,151,000 for fiscal year 1997-98.This Supplementary Estimate is requested in order to meet operational shortfalls in Committees and in Protective Services, and one-time expenditures for furniture and equipment.
A number of special studies undertaken by Senate Committees will be funded by this Supplementary Estimate. These studies, which were unanticipated at the time the Main Estimates were prepared, include the present state of financial system in Canada, the serious state of post-secondary education, a study on the Cape Breton Development Corporation, the importance of the Asia-Pacific Regions, Transportation Safety and Security.
The operational shortfall is due mainly to additional expenses incurred when, pursuant to an agreement with the House of Commons, the Senate's Protective Services accepted responsibility for the overall security and fire prevention of the East Block. This initiative, which is in its second year of implementation, will result in net savings of $80,000 per year after an initial pay-back period of three years, which is significantly less than the time Treasury Board uses as a guide.
Funds are requested for furniture and equipment for newly renovated parliamentary committee rooms which form part of the Renovation Plan for Parliament Hill.
Additional funds are required for the Senate's share of Parliamentary Associations, administered by both Houses of Parliament.
The Supplementary Estimate also covers the purchase of informatics equipment and computer software in order to ensure continued compatibility between the Senate's computer network communications and the House of Commons and Library of Parliament.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM ROMPKEY
Chair
The Honourable Senator Rompkey, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mercier, that the Report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Watt tabled the following (Sessional Paper No. 1/36-216S):Thursday, October 30, 1997
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples has the honour to present its
FIRST REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104 of the Rules, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-fifth Parliament are as follows:With respect to its examination and consideration of legislation:
| Professional Services | --- |
| Transportation | $ 4,515.45 |
| Other, Miscellaneous | --- |
| Total | $ 4,515.45 |
During the session, your Committee held 8 meetings, and examined 4 bills including Bill C-39, An Act respecting the York Factory First Nation and the settlement of matters arising from an agreement relating to the flooding of land; C-40, An Act respecting the Nelson House First nation and the settlement of matters arising from an agreement relating to the flooding of land; C-6, An Act to amend the Yukon Quartz Mining Act and the Yukon Placer Mining Act and S-12, An Act providing for self-government by the first nations of Canada. The Committee submitted three (3) reports.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Watt
Chair
Government Notices of Motions
With leave of the Senate, The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Bonnell:That the Clerk's Accounts be referred to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore:That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday next, November 4, 1997, at 2:00 p.m.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Introduction and First Reading of Government Bills
A Message was brought from the House of Commons with a Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act, to which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.The Bill was read the first time.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest, that the Bill be placed on the Orders of the Day for a second reading on Tuesday next, November 4, 1997.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Motions
Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Forest, seconded by the Honourable Senator Mercier:That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:
To His Excellency the Right Honourable Roméo A. LeBlanc, a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Forest:That the Address be engrossed and presented to His Excellency the Governor General by the Honourable the Speaker.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
_______________________________________________
With leave, The Senate reverted to Tabling of Documents. The Honourable Senator Carstairs tabled the following:
Proposed Regulations pursuant to Section 118 of the Firearms
Act.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-217.
(Pursuant to sub-section 118(3) of the Firearms Act, referred to
the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional
Affairs.)
ORDERS OF THE DAY
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Motions
Order No. 2 was called and postponed until the next sitting.OTHER BUSINESS
Reports of Committees
Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.Other
Orders No. 1 (motion), 5 (inquiry) and 3 (motion) were called and postponed until the next sitting.REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2):
Report of the Yukon Water Board required by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the period ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 72(2) and the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-209.Report of the Northern Oil and Gas for year ended 1996, pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 36, s. 109.-Sessional No. Paper 1/36-210.
Report of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development required by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the period ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 72(2) and the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-211.
Report of the Northwest Territories Water Board required by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the period ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 72(2) and the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-212.
Report of the Canadian Polar Commission required by the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the period ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 72(2) and the Privacy Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 72(2).-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-213.
Report of the Canadian Polar Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, pursuant to the Canadian Polar Commission Act, S.C. 1993, c. 29.-Sessional Paper No. 1/36-214.
ADJOURNMENT
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore:That the Senate do now adjourn.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.