Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 22, 2001
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 9:00 a.m., in Room 356-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Austin, P.C., Bolduc, Corbin, De Bané, P.C., Grafstein, Poulin and Stollery (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Setlakwe (1).
In attendance: Peter Berg and John Wright, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament, and Till Heyde, Committee Clerk.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to Rule 88.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Corbin moved that the Honourable Senator Stollery be Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Stollery took the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Bolduc moved that the Honourable Senator Andreychuk be Deputy Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator De Bané that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Honourable Senator Corbin.
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That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and
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That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Grafstein that the committee print copies of its Proceedings and that the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc that, pursuant to Rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and the opposition are present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc that, pursuant to Rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Grafstein that the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
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That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it;
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That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
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That the Chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Corbin that, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair or in the Chair's absence, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee; and
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That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred on the Chair, or the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc that the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee; and
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That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
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1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
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2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
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After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Andreychuk that, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Grafstein that the Chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
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That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 9:33 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera to discuss future business.
It was agreed that the Chair seek from the Senate separate Orders of Reference authorizing the committee to study foreign and Commonwealth affairs generally, developments in Russia and the Ukraine, and the consequences for Canada of the evolving European Union.
At 9:40 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 13, 2001
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 6 p.m., in Room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Peter A. Stollery presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bolduc, Carney, P.C., Corbin, Di Nino, Graham, P.C., Poulin and Stollery (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Setlakwe (1).
In attendance: Peter Berg and John Wright, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
From the Institute of European and Russian Studies, Carleton University:
Professor Vladimir Popov.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on March 1, 2001, the committee began its examination of the emerging political, social, economic and security developments in Russia and the Ukraine; Canada's policy and interests in the region; and other related matters.
Professor Popov made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:23 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 14, 2001
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs met this day at 3:30 p.m., in Room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Peter A. Stollery presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bolduc, Carney, P.C., Corbin, Di Nino, Graham, P.C., and Stollery (6).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Gauthier (1).
In attendance: John Wright, Research Officer, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
From the Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Toronto:
Professor Aurel Braun.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on March 1, 2001, the committee continued its examination of the emerging political, social, economic and security developments in Russia and the Ukraine; Canada's policy and interests in the region; and other related matters.
Professor Braun made a statement and answered questions.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Bolduc that the committee have its hearing televised.
After debate
It was resolved in the affirmative.
At 5:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee