Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 30, 2002
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 6:15 p.m. in room 160-S, Centre Block, for the purposes of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carney, Chalifoux, Christensen, Gill, Hubley, Léger, Pearson, Sibbeston and Stratton (9).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Tonina Simeone.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Election of Chair
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Christensen, — That the Honourable Senator Chalifoux do take the Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The clerk invited the Chairman elect to take the Chair.
The Chair presided over the election of the Deputy Chair.
Election of Deputy Chair
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton, — That the Honourable Senator Robertson be Deputy Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Sibbeston, —
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the Honourable Senator Pearson normally be the third member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
Motion to print the committee's proceedings
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Christensen, —
That the committee print its proceedings; and
That the Chair be authorized to set the number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Authorization to hold meetings and to print evidence when quorum is not present
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley, — 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 member of the Committee from both the government and the opposition are present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Financial Report
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Carney, — 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.
Research Staff
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Stratton, —
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
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;
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
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.
Authority to commit funds and certify accounts
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Pearson, —
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee; and
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 individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Travel
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Christensen, — 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
Designation of Members Travelling on Committee Business
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Hubley, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
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
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Travelling and living expenses of witnesses
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Carney, — That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses 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.
Electronic media coverage of public meetings
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Gill, —
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
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.
Time slot for regular meetings
The Chair informed the committee that the time slots for its meetings are 9:00 a.m. Tuesday mornings and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Adjournment
At 6:35 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 19, 2002
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 9:10 a.m. in room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honorable Thelma J. Chalifoux presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Christensen, Gill, Hubley, Léger, Pearson, Sibbeston, Stratton and Tkachuk (9).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Tonina Simeone and Mary Hurley and from Nation Media: Guy Freedman.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
The Chair informed the committee that the motion of the meeting of October 30, 2002, electing the Honourable Senator Robertson Deputy Chair was null and void.
The Honourable Senator Christensen moved — That the Honourable Senator Robertson be Deputy Chair of this Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Léger moved — That in the absence of the Honourable Senator Robertson, the Honourable Senator Stratton be empowered to act on her behalf as Deputy Chair of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed — That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
It was agreed — That Mr. Guy Freedman be permitted to attend in camera meetings of the committee.
At 9:15 a.m., pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, the committee continued its examination of issues affecting urban Aboriginal youth in Canada, in particular, access, provision and delivery of services, policy and jurisdictional issues, employment and education, access to economic opportunities, youth participation and empowerment, and other related matters.
The committee, pursuant to rule 92(2)(e) proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.
At 10:40 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee