THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

MINUTES

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 2, 2020
(1)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 17, 2020, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day by videoconference at 9:11 a.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 Anderson, Black (Alberta), Carignan, P.C., Cordy, Galvez, MacDonald, Massicotte, McCallum, Miville-Dechêne, Patterson, Simons and Verner, P.C. (12).

Participating in the meeting: Barbara Reynolds, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Sam Banks and Jesse Good, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Stav Nitka, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

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

The Honourable Senator Galvez moved that the Honourable Senator Massicotte do take the chair of this committee.

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

The clerk invited the Honourable Senator Massicotte to take the chair.

The chair presided over the election of the deputy chairs.

The Honourable Senator Verner moved that the Honourable Senator Doug Black be deputy chair of this committee.

The Honourable Senator Cordy moved that the Honourable Senator Carignan be deputy chair of this committee.

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

The Honourable Senator Carignan moved:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chairs 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.

With leave, the committee agreed to reconsider the motion.

The Honourable Senator Simons moved that the motion be amended by replacing the words “empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee” with “responsible for considering and consulting with the committee”.

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

It was agreed that the motion, as amended, carry.

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

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

The Honourable Senator Galvez moved that the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 12-26(2).

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

It was agreed that:

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 Honourable Senator Patterson moved:

That, pursuant to section 7, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, and the clerk of the committee;

That, pursuant to section 8, chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the chair, the deputy chairs, and the clerk of the committee; and

That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chairs.

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

The Honourable Senator Patterson 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 Patterson 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; and

2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee; and

That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.

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

The Honourable Senator Simons 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 Simons 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.

The committee proceeded to discuss other business.

At 9:42 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

Attest:

Chantal Cardinal

Clerk of the Committee