What amendment LIB-3.1 would do is amend clause 5 by replacing lines 10 to 12 on page 3, for those who wish to follow along, with a subclause 5(2), which would read as follows:
(2) A member of the Senate may be appointed to the Committee only after the Prime Minister has consulted with the persons referred to in paragraphs 62(a) and 62(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act and the leader of every caucus and of every recognized group in the Senate.
I believe the reasons for putting such an amendment forward are self-evident. They reflect the changing dynamics of the Senate. They also expressly require the Prime Minister to consult with both the Leader of the Government in the Senate as well as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. I believe that is an enhancement that is not currently reflected in the plain language of the bill.
I would also suggest that the latter part of my proposed amendment, which reads, “and the leader of every caucus and of every recognized group in the Senate” is reflective of a recommendation in the modernization report for the Senate, which takes into account new and emerging caucuses within the Senate. It would require the Prime Minister to consult with the leaders of these caucuses in attempting to constitute this new parliamentary oversight committee.