Proceedings of the Standing Joint Committee on
Scrutiny of Regulations

Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 19, 2004

OTTAWA, Thursday, February 19, 2004
(1)

[English]

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations met at 9:03 a.m., this day, in room 256-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate and to Standing Order 106(1) of the House of Commons.

Members of the committee present:

Representing the Senate: The Honourable Senators Mac Harb, Céline Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Wilfred Moore, and Pierre-Claude Nolin (4).

Representing the House of Commons: Larry Bagnell (for John Manley, P.C.), Paul DeVillers, P.C., Roger Gallaway, P.C., Peter Goldring, Gurmant Grewal, Jay Hill (for Ken Epp), Derek Lee, Paul Macklin, John O'Reilly (for Tom Wappel), James Rajotte (for Rex Barnes) and Lynne Yelich (for Val Meredith) (11).

In attendance: Joann Garbig, Joint Clerk of the Committee (House of Commons), François-R. Bernier, General Counsel to the Committee, Research Branch, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

The Joint Clerk representing the Senate presided over the election of the Senate Joint Chair.

The Honourable Senator Nolin moved that the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, P.C., be elected Senate Joint Chair.

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

The Joint Clerk representing the House of Commons presided over the election of the House of Commons Joint Chair.

Mr. Hill moved that Mr. Grewal be elected House of Commons Joint Chair.

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

The Senate Joint Chair and the House of Commons Joint Chair took the Chair.

Mr. Lee moved that Mr. Macklin be elected Vice-Chair.

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

The Honourable Senator Nolin moved that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Joint Chairs and the Vice-Chair, one member from the other party in the Senate and one member from each of the two other opposition parties in the House of Commons; and that the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.

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

The Honourable Senator Harb moved that the committee print its proceedings and that the Joint Chairs be authorized to set the number to meet demand.

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

The Honourable Senator Nolin moved that the committee's general counsel review the unrevised transcripts of the proceedings of the committee.

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

The Honourable Senator Moore moved that the committee concur in the first report and that the Joint Chairs so report to their respective House.

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

Mr. Lee moved that that, at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, 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 Joint Chairs be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.

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

Mr. Lee moved that the Joint Chairs be authorized to seek necessary permissions to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's 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 Harb moved that the committee meet at 8:30 a.m., dates to be confirmed, for its meetings to the end of 2004, subject to the adoption by both Houses of the committee's first report.

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

The Honourable Senator Harb moved that the committee concur in the following budget application for the purpose of its consideration of its statutory order of reference:

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

At 9:12 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the Joint Chairs.

ATTEST:

François Michaud

Joint Clerk of the Committee (Senate)