Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 13, 2007
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 5:18 p.m. in room 257, East Block, for the purpose of organisation, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Kenny, Milne, Mitchell, Nolin, Sibbeston, Spivak and Trenholme Counsell (11).
In attendance: Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the clerk presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved that the Honourable Senator Banks do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Banks assumed the chair and made opening remarks.
The Honourable Senator Banks moved that the Honourable Senator Nolin be deputy chair of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, the Honourable Senator Spivak, and one other member of the committee, to be designated after the usual consultations; 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.
The Honourable Senator Nolin moved:
That the committee print 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.
The Honourable Senator Mitchell moved:
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 be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts to the committee; and
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; and
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.
The Honourable Senator Adams moved:
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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 section 8, Chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved:
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;
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.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane moved:
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.
The Honourable Senator Milne moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee discussed issues related to its mandate.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to examine the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to its mandate:
(a) The current state and future direction of production, distribution, consumption, trade, security and sustainability of Canada's energy resources;
(b) Environmental challenges facing Canada including responses to global climate change, air pollution, biodiversity and ecological integrity;
(c) Sustainable development and management of renewable and non-renewable natural resources including but not limited to water, minerals, soils, flora and fauna;
(d) Canada's international treaty obligations affecting energy, the environment and natural resources and their influence on Canada's economic and social development.
That the papers and evidence received and taken during the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee report to the Senate from time to time, no later than June 30, 2009, and that the committee retain until September 30, 2009, all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 6:13 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 15, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met in camera this day, at 8:35 a.m. in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Kenny, Milne, Mitchell, Sibbeston, Spivak and Trenholme Counsell (10).
In attendance: Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
At 9:50 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 20, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 5 p.m. in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Kenny, Mitchell, Spivak and Trenholme Counsell (8).
In attendance: Lynne Myers and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 15, 2007, the committee began its examination of emerging issues related to its mandate.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved that the following legislative budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
Professional and Other Services $ 8,000 Transportation and Communications 500 All Other Expenditures 1,500 TOTAL $ 10,000
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Kenny moved that the following special study (emerging issues) budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
Professional and Other Services $ 13,790 Transportation and Communications 47,853 All Other Expenditures 3,000 TOTAL $ 64,643
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 5:14 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed to adopt the draft work plan (November-December 2007).
It was agreed that the draft report on the CEPA review 2007, dated November 20, 2007, be now distributed to all members of the committee.
At 5:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 22, 2007
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 9:37 a.m. in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Mitchell and Spivak (6).
In attendance: Lynne Myers and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the committee began its study of the subject matter of Bill S-208, An Act to require the Minister of the Environment to establish, in cooperation with the provinces, an agency with the power to identify and protect Canada's watersheds that will constitute sources of drinking water in the future.
WITNESS:
Senate of Canada:
The Honourable Senator Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, sponsor of the bill.
The chair made an opening statement.
The Honourable Senator Grafstein made a presentation and answered questions.
At 10:48 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
François Michaud
Clerk of the Committee