REGS Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDING

(Meeting No. 1)

Thursday, October 23, 1997

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations met at 9:09 a.m., this day in Room 256-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.

Members of the committee present: Representing the Senate: Marisa Ferretti Barth, William M. Kelly, P. Derek Lewis, Léonce Mercier and Wilfred P. Moore. (5)

Representing the House of Commons: John Bryden, Bill Casey, Paul DeVillers, Ken Epp, Marlene Jennings, John Maloney, Richard Marceau, John McKay, Alex Shepherd, Tom Wappel and Ted White. (11)

Acting members present: Reed Elley for Gary Lunn, Derrek Konrad for Inky Mark, Jerry Pickard for Derek Lee and Stéphan Tremblay for Caroline St-Hilaire. (4)

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

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Senator Lewis moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette be elected Senate Joint Chair of this committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

The Senate Joint Clerk declared the Honourable Hervieux-Payette elected in absentia as Senate Joint Chair of the committee.

The House of Commons Joint Clerk presided over the election of the House of Commons Joint Chairman.

Mr. Epp moved, -- That Mr. Ted White be elected House of Commons Joint Chair of the committee.

Mr. White stated that he did not wish to be Joint Chairman of the committee and moved -- That Mr. Lee be elected Joint Chairman of the committee.

With unanimous consent Mr. Epp withdrew his motion.

A debate followed.

The Honourable Senator Kelly moved, -- That the motion be amended as follows: that Mr. Lee be elected as Joint Chairman on condition of his acceptance of this position.

After debate, with unanimous consent, the Honourable Senator Kelly withdrew his motion to amend the main motion.

The question being put on the main motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

The House of Commons Joint Clerk declared Mr. Lee elected in absentia as House of Commons Joint Chairman of the committee.

In the absence of the two Joint Chairs of the committee, the House of Commons Joint Clerk presided over the election of an acting Joint Chairman for the meeting.

Mr. Wappel moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Lewis be elected acting Joint Chairman for the meeting.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

The Honourable Senator Lewis took the chair.

The Acting Joint Chair presided over the election of the Vice-Chairman of the committee.

Mr. Epp moved, -- That Mr. White be elected Vice-Chairman of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

It was agreed to postpone the appointment of a subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

The Honourable Senator Moore moved, -- That the committee print 550 copies of its Proceedings and that the Joint Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

It was agreed that the committee’s General Counsel review the unrevised transcripts of the Proceedings of the Committee.

Mr. Epp moved, -- That the quorum of the committee be fixed at seven (7) members and that the Joint Chairs be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence as long as three (3) members are present.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Rejected on division.

Mr. Pickard moved, -- That the quorum of the committee be fixed at four (4) members provided that both Houses are represented whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the Joint Chairs be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof so long as three (3) members are present, provided that both Houses are represented; and that the committee concur in the first report and the Joint Chairs so report to their respective House.

Mr. Marceau moved, -- That the motion be amended by stipulating that quorum include at least one representative from the opposition.

The question being put on the amendment, it was -- Rejected on division.

The question then was put on the main motion and, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

Mr. Wappel moved, -- That the committee confirm the agreement to have two Counsel from the Library of Parliament and two Administrative Assistants from the Senate assigned to the said committee on a continuing basis and that their salaries and other expenses be paid by the committee from funds provided for that purpose in the committee's budget.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

The Honourable Senator Kelly moved, -- That either Joint Chair or, in accordance with the direction of the Joint Chairs, either Joint Clerk be authorized to approve payment of expenditures of the committee.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

Mr. Epp moved, -- That the committee reimburse travelling and living expenses for only one witness per organization.

After debate, with unanimous consent Mr. Epp withdrew his motion.

Mr. Epp moved, -- That at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

Mr. Marceau moved, -- That the Clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute, in their original language, the documents received from the public and that such documents are translated and the translation distributed as promptly as possible.

The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the committee take place on November 6, 1997 at 8:30 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Tõnu Onu

Joint Clerk of the Committee (Senate)