| REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE |
Wednesday, February 11, 2004 |
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications
has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament are as follows:
1.
With respect to its examination of
legislation:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 1,243 |
| Transport and Communications | 0 |
| Other Expenditures | 0 |
|
|
|
| Total | $ 1,243 |
| Witness Expenses | $ 43 |
2. With respect to its study of issues facing the intercity busing industry:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 4,153 |
| Transport and Communications | $ 0 |
| Other Expenditures | $ 1,287 |
|
|
|
| Total | $ 5,440 |
| Witness Expenses | $ 0 |
3. With respect to its study of the current state of Canadian media industries:
| Professional and Other Services | $ 20,589 |
| Transport and Communications | $ 1,022 |
| Other Expenditures | $ 1,109 |
|
|
|
| Total | $ 22,720 |
| Witness Expenses | $ 10,300 |
Your Committee notes that witness expenses are not paid out of the budgets of individual committees.
Your Committee received 3 orders of reference from the Senate during the session in question. It held 38 meetings during this period, receiving evidence from 83 witnesses over more than 62 hours, and submitted 5 reports to the Senate.
In its First Report, which was tabled in the Senate on October 29, 2002, your Committee reported its expenses and activities in the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament, pursuant to Rule 104.
Your Committee’s Second Report, presented in the Senate on December 5, 2002, requested financing for the conclusion of the work on intercity busing in Canada begun during the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament. The Senate adopted this report on December 10, 2002.
Your Committee concluded its work on intercity busing in Canada by tabling its Third Report in the Senate on December 11, 2002. This report contained six recommendations for significant restructuring of the sector.
On March 20, 2003, your Committee presented its Fourth Report, dealing with Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act. The report contained observations endorsing the content and philosophy of the Bill but noting various issues and concerns identified during the study.
Your Committee’s Fifth Report, presented in the Senate on April 3, 2003, requested financing for its study of the Canadian news media. The Senate adopted this report on May 6, 2003. For the rest of the Session your Committee focussed its work on this Order of Reference. It held hearings on the current state of Canadian media industries; emerging trends and developments in these industries; the media's role, rights, and responsibilities in Canadian society; and current and appropriate future policies relating thereto. This work was interrupted by the prorogation of the Session before the report on this topic could be prepared.
Respectfully submitted,
JOAN FRASER
Chair