THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Friday, May 8, 2020
(1)

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of April 11, 2020, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day by videoconference at 12:56 p.m. [ET] for the purpose of holding its organization meeting pursuant to rule 12-13. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Campbell, Dasko, Forest-Niesing, Griffin, Kutcher, Manning, Martin, Mégie, Moodie, Munson, Omidvar, Petitclerc, Poirier, Seidman (14).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senator LaBoucane-Benson, Pate, Black (Ontario) (3).

Participating in the meeting: Keli Hogan and Joëlle Nadeau, Procedural Clerks, Committees Directorate; Laura Munn-Rivard and Sonya Norris, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.

The Honourable Senator Poirier moved that the Honourable Senator Petitclerc do take the chair of this committee.

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

The Honourable Senator Petitclerc took the chair.

The Honourable Senator Griffin moved that the Honourable Senator Poirier be deputy chair of this committee.

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

The Honourable Senator Munson moved:

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.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Mégie moved that the committee publish its proceedings.

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

The Honourable Senator Seidman moved:

That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign analysts 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.

The Honourable Senator Forest-Niesing moved:

That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses of one witness per organization upon application, but that the chair be authorized to approve expenses of a second witness from the same organization should there be exceptional circumstances.

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

The Honourable Senator Munson moved:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans and products where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of the promotion of their work; and

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its proceedings, at its discretion.

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

It was agreed that the committee proceed in camera to discuss a draft agenda.

At 1:14 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:15 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

At 2:08 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee