Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Minutes of Proceedings - February 28, 2019
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 28, 2019
(71)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met in camera this day at 8:30 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Sabi Marwah, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Dawson, Dean, Forest, Housakos, Marshall, Marwah, Moncion, Munson, Plett, Saint-Germain, Tannas, Tkachuk, Verner, P.C., and Wetston (15).
Also in attendance: Pascale Legault, Chief Corporate Services Officer and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration; Richard Denis, Interim Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments and Chief Legislative Services Officer; senior Senate officials and other support staff.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
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.
At 8:42 a.m., the committee proceeded in public.
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.
CIBA/2019-02-28/542(P)|211| — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings from February 21, 2019
The committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday, February 21, 2019, public portion.
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain moved:
That the Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday, February 21, 2019 be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2019-02-28/543(P)|390| — Report from the Subcommittee on Human Resources
The chair of the Subcommittee on Human Resources, the Honourable Senator Saint-Germain, presented the second report of the subcommittee, as amended, as follows:
Thursday, February 28, 2019
The Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
SECOND REPORT
Your subcommittee, which was authorized to conduct a review of the Senate Policy on Prevention and Resolution of Harassment in the Workplace, and issues related to human resources in the Senate, now presents its second report, as amended, entitled: Modernizing the Senate's Anti-Harassment Policy: Together let's protect our healthy worklife.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymonde Saint-Germain
Chair
The Honourable Senator Saint-Germain made a statement and answered questions. Michel Bédard, Interim Deputy Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel, was invited to the table and answered questions.
After debate, it was agreed that the report be referred back to the subcommittee to take into account concerns raised by members and that the subcommittee present a revised report at the committee's next meeting.
It was also agreed that the subcommittee be authorized to begin drafting the new anti-harassment policy.
It was further agreed that the committee would proceed to a vote on the revised report if no consensus can be reached at the committee's next meeting.
CIBA/2019-02-28/544(P)|295| — Report from the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets
The Chair of the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., presented the twenty- third report of the subcommittee as follows:
Thursday, February 28, 2019
The Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has the honour to present its
TWENTY-THIRD REPORT
Your subcommittee recommends the release of the following amounts for fiscal year 2018-19:
Agriculture and Forestry (special study on value-added food sector)
Activity 1: Southeastern Ontario $66,308 Total $66,308 (includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 9 senators to travel and 2 senator's staff to travel)
Legal and Constitutional Affairs (legislation)
General Expenses $6,000 Total $6,000 With the addition of these two budgets, that brings the total amount recommended for release so far in this fiscal year to $1,342,361, to fund 16 committee travel activities. To date, 14 of those activities have been completed, with $729,235 of the total amount of funds released having been spent or committed.
As in past years, the subcommittee notes that typically, committees' actual expenditures are closer to 40% of their total budget request. This means that we can expect around $550,000 to be returned or clawed back to the main budget set aside for committee travel for the remainder of this fiscal year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSÉE VERNER, P.C.
Chair
The Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., made a statement and answered questions.
After discussion, the Honourable Senator Verner, P.C., moved:
That the report be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
CIBA/2019-02-28/545(P)|232| — Motion 328 — Appointment Process for Clerk of the Senate
The chair made a statement on motion 328 pertaining to the appointment process for the Clerk of the Senate.
After discussion, it was agreed that a briefing note be prepared and discussed at the committee's next meeting.
CIBA/2019-02-28/546(P)|371| — Allocation of Caucus/Group and House Officer Budgets for 2019-2020
The chair made a statement on allocation of funds for caucuses, groups and House Officers for the fiscal year 2019- 20.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Tannas moved:
That, notwithstanding the provisions of the Finance Rule in the Schedule of the Senate Administrative Rules, the additional financial allowance for the fiscal year commencing on April 1, 2019, for the following be as follows:
a) Leader, Deputy Leader and Whip of the Government in the Senate: total amount of $1,628,150;
b) Leader, Deputy Leader and Whip of the Opposition in the Senate and research fund for the Opposition: total amount of $1,347,150;
c) Research fund for the Independent Senators Group: total amount of $1,510,000; and
d) Research fund for the Independent Liberals: total amount of $ 410,000.
For greater certainty, the allocated amounts are in effect until the end of the 42nd parliament and the amounts provided for group and caucus are conditional on the caucus of the relevant party or parliamentary group meeting the minimum size requirement to be a recognized party or a recognized parliamentary group under the Rules of the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
CIBA/2019-02-28/547(P)|230| — Selection of External Auditors
The Honourable Senator Moncion made a statement on the upcoming interview process for the selection of the Senate external audit firm.
The Honourable Senators Wetston and Marshall agreed to be part of the selection panel. The chair undertook to find a third senator for the selection process.
At 10:14 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
Recording Secretary