The explanation that was given to me, as I recall, at a briefing given by leaders of the government and the opposition, who spoke to all of us newcomers — I think Senator Carstairs was part of that group — was that, unlike the House of Commons, any senator is entitled to attend any meeting of any committee, whether or not they are a voting member.
Si je me souviens bien, l'explication m'a été fournie lors d'une séance d'information donnée par les leaders du gouvernement et de l'opposition aux nouveaux venus ici. Je crois que madame le sénateur Carstairs faisait partie du groupe.
