Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue No. 47 - Evidence - October 4, 2018
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 4, 2018
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 10:31 a.m. for the election of the chair.
[English]
Shaila Anwar, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, I would like to inform you that there is a vacancy in the chair. As clerk of the committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of a chair.
[Translation]
I’m prepared to hear a motion to that effect.
[English]
Senator Seidman: I would like to nominate Senator Petitclerc to be chair of this committee.
[Translation]
Ms. Anwar: The Honourable Senator Seidman moves that the Honourable Senator Petitclerc be chair of this committee.
[English]
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Anwar: I declare the motion carried.
Senator Chantal Petitclerc (Chair) in the chair.
[Translation]
The Chair: Honourable colleagues, first, I move that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the vice-chair, and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation. I further move 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. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Accordingly, the motion is adopted.
[English]
Honourable senators, it is a great pleasure and privilege to be embarking in this new role as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
I want to thank and recognize our dear past chair, Senator Art Eggleton, who retired a few days ago and who we miss already, as well as his predecessor, Kelvin Ogilvie. Both of them have been the driving force behind the excellent work of this committee since 2006. They both welcomed me when I was first appointed as a new senator in this committee. They have inspired me and advised me, and I am committed to keeping their very high standard of excellence and professionalism.
I also want to thank you, honourable colleagues, for the trust that you have put in me. I assure you that I take this responsibility to heart. I’m very excited and look forward to working with each of you in continuing the great and very important work that we do on this committee.
Senator Seidman: I congratulate you, Senator Petitclerc. As you’ve said, we both had the privilege to serve under two chairs on SOCI, Senator Ogilvie and Senator Eggleton, and they have provided us with serious leadership and mentorship. I know we both learned very much from them.
It’s truly a new era, and I look forward to working with you and all of our committee members as we move into the future. I say upward and onward.
Senator Munson: I’d like to echo the same sentiments on behalf of the Senate independent Liberals. Mentorship is a very important thing and time passes quickly here. I’ll be in my fifteenth year in December. I can’t believe it. At that time, Dr. Wilbert Keon was the chair. He was also the deputy chair. He offered so much advice across party lines, whatever that means, and it was so good. For the new senators who are here that are tapping into each other’s intellect, I want to remind you what Dr. Keon did for me in my first years here in 2003, 2004 and 2005. It was just immense.
With that, chair, I wish you well. It’s a lot of work.
When do we nominate the deputy chair? Do we do that here?
Ms. Anwar: Senator Seidman already is the deputy chair, so there’s no need to, unless she resigns.
Senator Munson: Well, congratulations. She’s not here right now.
Senator Cordy will be joining me, thank goodness. She’ll be the other member of steering, which is really good for this committee.
The Chair: Absolutely. Thank you, Senator Munson.
We will go in camera.
[Translation]
Thank you so much, everyone.
(The committee continued in camera.)