Senate: F

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Debate concerning
Motion to Strike Special Committee on Senate Modernization

Extracted from the Hansard, 41st Parliament, 2nd session: October 29, 2014 2

On the Order: 3

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Nolin, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C.: 3-1

That a Special Committee on Senate Modernization be appointed to consider methods to make the Senate more effective, more transparent and more responsible, within the current constitutional framework, in order, in part, to increase public confidence in the Senate; 3-2

That the committee be composed of nine members, to be nominated by the Committee of Selection, and that five members constitute a quorum; 3-3

That the committee have the power to send for persons, papers and records; to examine witnesses; and to publish such papers and evidence from day to day as may be ordered by the committee; 3-4

That the committee be authorized to hire outside experts; 3-5

That, notwithstanding rule 12-18(2)(b)(i), the committee have the power to sit from Monday to Friday, even though the Senate may then be adjourned for a period exceeding one week; and 3-6

That the committee be empowered to report from time to time and to submit its final report no later than December 31, 2015. 3-7

Hon. Joan Fraser (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, this item stands at day 13 and, as is the case with the whole series of inquiries that Senator Nolin has launched, and indeed in the case of this motion, these are topics upon which it is not possible to respond lightly or without great reflection. That's why I think this particular motion should be given very serious consideration. 4

We all know that there are things this institution needs to do and can do to modernize itself. The trouble is that we don't necessarily agree on what those things are. And although I greatly value—I think we all do—the quality of debate in this chamber, debate can only take us so far. 4-1

I think that Senator Nolin has been trying to push us to not only greater action but more serious, concerted reflection on where we should go and what we need to do. Lord knows I applaud him, and I know I'm not the only one to applaud him on that. 4-2

I'm not sure that this chamber is yet ready to adopt this motion as it stands. It is very important that we not let these matters slide; that we think hard about them, that we think about what we want such a committee to achieve. I urge honourable senators to do that. 4-3

There is a vast array of topics that we need to look at. If Senator Mitchell were not out of the chamber at this moment he would say that many of us think televising the Senate is the first thing we need to do. Personally, I'm not sure that he's right about that. Senator Munson would agree with him. That's on a very obvious, superficial level. 4-4

There are many other, both superficial and much less superficial, technical and philosophical things that we need to think about. 4-5

I don't have any answers, I really don't. But, colleagues, I want us all to think about that. In the absence of answers from me, I'm going to move the adjournment in the name of Senator Cowan. 4-6

(On motion of Senator Fraser, for Senator Cowan, debate adjourned.) 5

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Participant:

Hon. Joan Fraser