Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament (BILI)

Mandate

The Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament assists the Speakers of both the Senate and the House of Commons in reviewing the effectiveness, management and operation of the Library.

Summary of Committee Activity

During the period from April 1 to August 31, 2018, the Committee met four times. During its first meeting, the Committee elected the Hon. Lucie Moncion and Gagan Sikand as its Joint Chairs and Dave Van Kesteren and Anne Minh-Thu Quach as its Vice-Chairs. At its meeting on May 3, the Committee studied the Main Estimates 2018-19. On May 24, the Committee received a general briefing from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, as well as a briefing from the Parliamentary Librarian on the impact on the Library of Parliament of the closing of Centre Block. Pursuant to the order of reference from the Senate on June 11, and the order of reference from the House on June 8, the Committee studied the Certificate of Nomination of Heather P. Lank to the Position of Parliamentary Librarian. This culminated in the Second Report of the Committee, which was presented to the Senate on June 14, and presented to the House on June 18.

From September 1 to December 31, 2018, the Joint Committee met twice. On October 4, the Parliamentary Librarian appeared before the Joint Committee as a witness. On November 8, the Committee received a briefing on the digitization of responses to written questions from senior officials from the House of Commons.

From January 1 to March 31, 2019, the Joint Committee did not meet.

Membership (as of March 31, 2019)

Hon. Lucie Moncion (Senate) (Co-Chair), Gagan Sikand (Co-Chair), Dave Van Kesteren (Vice-Chair), Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Vice-Chair), Hon. Michael Duffy (Senate), Hon. Nicole Eaton (Senate), Hon. Thomas McInnis (Senate), Hon. Terry M. Mercer (Senate), Julie Dzerowicz, Jim Eglinski, Anthony Housefather, Angelo Iacono, Guy Lauzon, Michael Levitt, Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Hon. Alice Wong, Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Expenditures (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019)

For general information on the following table, see the “Note to Reader – Expenditures”.

Study Name	Witness Expenses ($)	Video Conferences ($)	Other ($)	Total ($)
Operational Budget	0	0	718	718
Total	0	0	718	718

Meetings, Witnesses and Reports (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019)

For general information on the following table, see the “Note to Reader – Meetings, Witnesses and Reports”.

Standing Joint Committee	Total Number of Meetings	Number of Televised Meetings	Number of Meetings with Videoconferencing	Number of Meetings with Video Recording	Total Meeting Hours	Number of Witnesses	Number of Reports
Standing Joint Committee (BILI)	6	1	0	0	6h36m	16	2
Total	6	1	0	0	6h36m	16	2

Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (REGS)

Mandate

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations reviews and scrutinizes government regulations and other statutory instruments.

Summary of Committee Activity

From April 1 to August 31, 2018, the Joint Committee examined a range of statutory instruments and held five meetings during which it heard from a total of six witnesses representing the Department of Justice and the Department of Industry. On May 25, the Committee presented its Fourth Report to the House relating to the accessibility of documents incorporated by reference in federal regulations.

From September 1 to December 31, 2018, the Joint Committee pursued its regulatory review mandate by holding a total of seven meetings. Witnesses from Global Affairs Canada, the departments of Transport and Justice, and the Parks Canada Agency appeared on active files.

From January 1 to March 31, 2019, the Joint Committee examined a number of statutory instruments and held two meetings. On February 21, the Joint Committee heard from witnesses representing the Department of Finance.

Membership (as of March 31, 2019)

Hon. Joseph A. Day (Senate) (Co-Chair), Harold Albrecht (Co-Chair), Vance Badawey (Vice‑Chair), Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Vice-Chair), Hon. Patricia Duncan (Senate), Hon. Marie-Françoise Mégie (Senate), Hon. Carolyn Stewart Olsen (Senate), Bob Benzen, Fayçal El-Khoury, James Maloney, Larry Miller, Ramesh Sangha, Francis Scarpaleggia, Martin Shields, Scott Simms, Geng Tan

Expenditures (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019)

For general information on the following table, see the “Note to Reader – Expenditures”.

Study Name	Witness Expenses ($)	Video Conferences ($)	Other ($)	Total ($)
Operational Budget	0	0	2,519	2,519
Total	0	0	2,519	2,519

Meetings, Witnesses and Reports (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019)

For general information on the following table, see the “Note to Reader – Meetings, Witnesses and Reports”.

Standing Joint Committee and Subcommittee	Total Number of Meetings	Number of Televised Meetings	Number of Meetings with Videoconferencing	Number of Meetings with Video Recording	Total Meeting Hours	Number of Witnesses	Number of Reports
Standing Joint Committee (REGS)	14	0	0	0	19h14m	20	1
Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure (SREG)	0	0	0	0	0h0m	0	0
Total	14	0	0	0	19h14m	20	1