SBLI Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee met at 1:10 p.m. this day, in Room 112-N Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

The Committee Clerk presided over the election of the Chair.

Andrew Telegdi moved, — That Bonie Brown be elected Chair of the Subcommittee.

Gurmant Grewal moved, — That John Williams be elected Chair of the Subcommittee.

The election was conducted by secret ballot and, the ballots having been counted, Bonnie Brown was declared duly elected Chair.

On motion of Gurmant Grewal, it was agreed, — That John Williams be elected as Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee.

Bonnie Brown took the Chair.

The Clerk gave a presentation on the financial status of the global envelope for committees activities.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be granted a general operational budget of $9,400.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development be granted an operational budget of $14,100 for its study of Bill C-20, An Act to provide for real property taxation powers of first nations, to create a First Nations Tax Commission, First Nations Financial Management Board, First Nations Finance Authority and First Nations Statistical Institute and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Finance be granted an operational budget of $25,000 for its study on Small Business Tax Measures: The Cooperatives.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Public Accounts be granted a travel budget of $109,700 to travel to Canberra, Brisbane (Australia), from January 31, 2005 to February 9, 2005, to attend the 8th Biennial Conference of the 2005 Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration be granted a travel budget of $45,197 to travel to Quebec and Montreal (QC), in February and March 2005, for public hearings on its studies on the New Citizenship Legislation, Recognition of Foreign Credentials and, Family Reunification.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration be granted a travel budget of $115,520 to travel to St. John’s (NL), Halifax (NS), Fredericton (NB) and, Charlottetown (PEI), in February and March 2005, for public hearings on its studies on the New Citizenship Legislation, Recognition of Foreign Credentials and, Family Reunification.

It was agreed, — That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration be granted a travel budget of $199,627 to travel to Winnipeg (MA), Regina (SK), Calgary, Edmonton (AB), Victoria, Vancouver (BC), Toronto and, Kitchener-Waterloo (ON), in February and March 2005, for public hearings on its studies on the New Citizenship Legislation, Recognition of Foreign Credentials and, Family Reunification.

At 1:44 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.