Senator Tony Dean

Honourable senators, I give notice that, two days hence, I will move: That the Rules of the Senate be amended: 1.by: (a)deleting the word “and” at the end of rule 12-3(2)(e) in the English version; and (b) replacing the period at the end of rule 12-3(2)(f) by the following: “; and (g) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, three Senators and two qualified external members.”; 2.by replacing rule 12-3(3) with the following: “Ex officio members 12-3. (3) In addition to the membership provided for in subsections (1) and (2), the Leader of the Government, or the Deputy Leader if the Leader is absent, and the leader or facilitator of each recognized party and recognized parliamentary group, or a designate if a leader or facilitator is absent, are ex officio members of all committees except the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight and the joint committees. The ex officio members of committees have all the rights and obligations of a member of a committee, but shall not vote. Restriction on membership 12-3. (4) No Senator shall be a member of both the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight.”; 3.by replacing the portion of rule 12-5 before paragraph (a) by the following: “12-5. Changes in the membership of a committee, except for the ex officio members and members of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators and the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, may be made by notice filed with the Clerk, who shall have the notice recorded in the Journals of the Senate. The notice shall be signed by:”; 4.by replacing rule 12-6 with the following: “Quorum of standing committees 12-6. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and elsewhere in these Rules, the quorum of a standing committee shall be four of its members. EXCEPTION Rule 12-27(2): Quorum of committee Audit and Oversight 12-6. (2) The quorum of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall be two Senators and one external member, except in the case of the organization meeting, for which the quorum shall be three Senators.”; 5.by: (a)deleting the word “and” at the end of rule 12-7(15) in the English version; and (b)replacing the period at the end of rule 12-7(16) by the following: “; and Audit and Oversight 12-7. (17) the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, which, for the purposes of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability, shall be authorized, on its own initiative, to: (a) retain the services of and oversee the external auditors and internal auditors; (b) supervise the Senate’s internal and external audits; (c) make recommendations to the Senate concerning the internal and external audit plans; (d) report to the Senate regarding the internal and external audits, including audit reports and other matters; (e) review the Senate Administration’s action plans to ensure: (i) that they adequately address the recommendations and findings arising from internal and external audits, and (ii) that they are effectively implemented; (f) review the Senate’s Quarterly Financial Reports and the audited Financial Statements, and report them to the Senate; and (g) report at least annually with observations and recommendations to the Senate.”; 6.by adding the following new rule 12-9(3): “Audit and Oversight — access to information 12-9. (3) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may review the in camera proceedings of other Senate committees, including any transcripts of meetings, as they relate to the mandate of the Audit and Oversight Committee.”; 7.by replacing rule 12-13 with the following: “Organization meeting 12-13. (1) Once the Senate has agreed to the membership of a committee, the Clerk of the Senate shall, as soon as practicable, call an organization meeting of the committee at which it shall elect a chair. Chair of Audit and Oversight 12-13. (2) The chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall be a Senator who is not a member of the recognized party or recognized parliamentary group to which the chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration belongs. Audit and Oversight — nomination of external members 12-13. (3) After electing its chair and deputy chair, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall adopt a report to the Senate nominating two qualified external members for the committee. This report must be agreed to by all three Senators who are members of the committee. The report shall include recommendations on remuneration and permissible expenses for the external members, which shall be paid from Senate funds once the report is adopted by the Senate.”; 8.by replacing rule 12-14 with the following: “Participation of non-members 12-14. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and elsewhere in these Rules, a Senator who is not a member of a committee may attend and participate in its deliberations, but shall not vote. EXCEPTIONS Rule 12-28(2): Participation of non-members Rule 15-7(2): Restrictions if declaration of interest Rule 16-3(6): Speaking at conferences Audit and Oversight 12-14. (2) Senators who are not members of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall not participate in its meetings, unless they are appearing as witnesses.”; 9.by replacing the portion of rule 12-16(1) before paragraph (a) by the following: “12-16. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) and elsewhere in these Rules, a committee may meet in camera only for the purpose of discussing:”; 10.by renumbering current rule 12-16(2) as 12-16(3), and by adding the following new rule 12-16(2): “Audit and Oversight — in camera 12-16. (2) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall meet in camera whenever it deals with the in-camera proceedings of another committee.”; 11.by replacing the portion of rule 12-18(2) before paragraph (a) by the following: “12-18. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) and elsewhere in these Rules, a Senate committee may meet when the Senate is adjourned:”; 12.by adding the following new rule 12-18(3): “Audit and Oversight 12-18. (3) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may meet during any adjournment of the Senate.”; 13.by replacing rule 12-22(1) by the following: “Majority conclusions 12-22. (1) Except as provided in subsection (7), a report of a Senate committee shall contain the conclusions agreed to by majority.”; 14.by replacing rule 12-22(2) by the following: “Presentation or tabling 12-22. (2) Except as provided in subsection (8) and elsewhere in these Rules, a committee report shall be presented or tabled in the Senate by the chair or by a Senator designated by the chair. EXCEPTION Rule 12-31: Report deposited with the Clerk”; 15.by adding the following new rules 12-3(7) and (8): “Reports of Audit and Oversight Committee — Content 12-3. (7) The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight shall include the opinions of the external members in its reports. Audit and Oversight — report deposited with the Clerk 12-22. (8) A report of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight may be deposited with the Clerk at any time the Senate stands adjourned, and the report shall be deemed to have been presented or tabled in the Senate.”; 16.by replacing the opening paragraph of the definition of “Committee” in Appendix I, starting with the words “A body of Senators, Members of the House of Commons or both,”, by the following: “A body of Senators, Members of the House of Commons, members of both houses, or others, appointed by one or both of the two houses to consider such matters as may be referred to it or that it may be empowered to examine, including bills. A Senate committee is, except in the case of the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight, one composed solely of Senators (as opposed to a joint committee — see below). (Comité)”; and 17.by updating all cross references in the Rules, including the lists of exceptions, accordingly.