THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL ECONOMY, BUDGETS AND ADMINISTRATION

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Thursday, March 9, 2023
(20)

[English]

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day at 9:00 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Lucie Moncion, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boniface, Bovey, Boyer, Carignan, P.C., Dalphond, Dean, Forest, Gagné, Loffreda, Moncion, Plett, Seidman, Tannas and Yussuff (14)

Participating in the meeting: Pascale Legault, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Gérald Lafrenière, Interim Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments and Chief Legislative Services Officer; Philippe Hallée, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel; senior Senate officials and other support staff.

WITNESSES:

Martin Thibert, IT Operations and Infrastructure Support, Information Services Directorate;

David Vatcher, Director, Information Services Directorate.

Pursuant to rule 12-7(1) of the Rules of the Senate, the committee continued its consideration of financial and administrative matters concerning the Senate’s internal administration.

The Chair made a statement.

The senators introduced themselves.

CIBA/2023-03-09/215(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings from February 16, 2023 (public)

The committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings from February 16, 2023 (public).

The Honourable Senator Boyer moved that the Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday, February 16, 2023 (public), be adopted.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

CIBA/2023-03-09/216(P) — House Officers Budgets for 2023-24

The chair made a statement.

The Honourable Senator Plett moved that the following House Officer budget allocation for the 2023-24 fiscal year be adopted:

Government Representative Office (GRO) $1,308,154;

Independent Senators Group (ISG) $1,308,154;

Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) $1,279,792;

Progressive Senate Group (PSG) $500,000; and

Canadian Senators Group (CSG) $ 500,000.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

CIBA/2023-03-09/217(P) — Request for Proposal for Network Renewal Phase 2

David Vatcher made a statement regarding the service agreement with the House of Commons to acquire the network equipment to enable phase II of the Parliamentary Precinct Network Upgrade.

The Honourable Senator Gagné moved that the Senate Administration be authorized to enter into a memorandum with the House of Commons to acquire the network equipment that will enable Phase 2 of the Parliamentary Precinct network upgrade over the course of the next four years, for an estimated total value of $3,532,000 as presented in the Main Estimates exercise for 2023-24.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

CIBA/2023-03-09/218(P) — Service Level Agreement — LEGISinfo

David Vatcher made a statement regarding the service level agreement for LEGISinfo with the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament.

The Honourable Senator Forest moved that the Senate Administration be authorized to enter into a sole source contract for the renewal for LEGISInfo with the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament for a period of three years for a total amount of $45,396.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

CIBA/2023-03-09/219(P) — Creation of the Working Group on Credit Cards

Pascale Legault answered questions regarding the creation of the Working Group on Credit Cards.

After debate, the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., moved:

That the Advisory Working Group on the Senate Corporate Credit Card be established and authorized to examine the usage of the Senate corporate credit card in relation to travel expenses;

That the advisory working group be composed of 5 senators working collectively;

That the Honourable Senators Wells and Quinn be named as members of the advisory working group;

That the names of the two remaining ISG members and the one remaining PSG member of the working group be provided by their respective leader/facilitator (or their delegate) to the clerk of the committee;

That the membership be finalized by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure;

That the advisory working group be empowered to elect a chair;

That the advisory working group provide a report on progress as required; and

That the advisory working group present its final report to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration no later than June 30, 2023.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

At 9:18 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:19 a.m., pursuant to 12-16(1), the committee proceeded in camera.

At 10:40 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Pascale Legault

Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Gérald Lafrenière

Acting Recording Secretary