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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 1
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1997
The Special Joint Committee to amend Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning the Quebec school system met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Representing the Senate: The Honourable Senators Gérald A. Beaudoin, Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, John Lynch-Staunton, Lucie Pépin, and Dalia Wood.
Other Senator present: The Honourable Senator Marcel Prud'homme.
Representing the House of Commons: Reg Alcock, Mauril Bélanger, Gerry Byrne, Paul DeVillers, Sheila Finestone, Christiane Gagnon, Yvon Godin, Peter Goldring, Marlene Jennings, Réal Ménard, Val Meredith, Denis Paradis, David Price, and Susan Whelan.
Other Member present: Jason Kenney.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Mollie Dunsmuir and Daniel Dupras, Research Officers.
Pursuant to the Orders of Reference adopted by the Senate on October 9, 1997 and by the House of Commons on October 1, 1997, the Committee began consideration of various aspects of the draft resolution concerning the proposed amendment to Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 concerning the Quebec school system.
The Joint Clerks proceeded with the election of the Joint Chairs.
On motion of Senator Grafstein, it was agreed – That Senator Lucie Pépin be elected Joint Chair (Senate).
Senator Lucie Pépin took the Chair.
On motion of Réal Ménard, it was agreed – That Denis Paradis be elected Joint Chair (House of Commons).
Denis Paradis took the Chair.
On motion of Sheila Finestone, it was agreed –That the proceedings of the Committee be broadcast pursuant to the Orders of Reference adopted by the Senate on October 9, 1997 and by the House of Commons on October 1, 1997.
On motion of Gérald A. Beaudoin, it was agreed – That the Senate be authorized to print the Committee’s Proceedings, in the number considered necessary to meet demand.
On motion of Mauril Bélanger, it was agreed – That the Committee adopt its proposed Budget for the fiscal year 1997-1998, in the amount of $50,925, and that the Joint Chairs present the said Budget to their respective financial authorities; and
That the Committee authorize the Joint Chair (Senate) to seek authorization from the Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration to incur expenses up to $10,000 on an emergency basis.
On motion of Val Meredith, it was agreed – That the Committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the Committee;
That the Joint Chairs be authorized to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical resources as may be required by the work of the Committee; and
That the Joint Chairs, on behalf of the Committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
On motion of Paul DeVillers, it was agreed – That, pursuant to the Senate and House of Commons guidelines for witnesses’ expenses, 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.
On motion of Mauril Bélanger, it was agreed – 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.
On motion of Gérald A. Beaudoin, it was agreed – That the Joint Clerks of the Committee be authorized to distribute, in their original language, the documents received from the public and that the Joint Clerks of the Committee ensure that such documents are translated and promptly distributed.
On motion of Reg Alcock, it was agreed – That the Joint Clerks be authorized, in consultation with the Joint Chairs, to order food, etc. whenever a Committee meeting is scheduled to extend into or over a meal period.
By unanimous consent, the Committee considered future business.
By unanimous consent, a provisional work plan was distributed to Committee members.
Debate arose thereon.
On motion of Réal Ménard, it was agreed – That Committee members be asked to leave a list of witnesses they want the Committee to invite with the Joint Clerks of the Committee before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 1997.
On motion of John Lynch-Staunton, it was agreed – That the Leader of the Government and the Leader of the Official Opposition at the National Assembly of Quebec be invited to testify.
On motion of Val Meredith, it was proposed – That the procedure for giving those who wish to speak the floor follow the procedure used by the House of Commons.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was, by a show of hands, negatived.
At 5:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Joint Chairs.
Joint Clerks of the Committee
Martine Bresson and Denis Robert
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