Proceedings of the Subcommittee on
Communications
Issue 1 - Evidence
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 22, 2000
The Subcommittee on Communications of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 5:30 p.m. to organize the activities of the subcommittee.
[English]
Mr. Michel Patrice, Clerk of the subcommittee: Honourable senators, as clerk of the subcommittee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chairman, and I am prepared to receive motions to that effect.
Senator Finestone: I move that Senator Poulin be chairman of the subcommittee.
Mr. Patrice: Are there any other motions?
There being none, is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Patrice: Carried.
I would ask that Senator Poulin take the Chair.
Senator Marie-P. Poulin (Chairman) in the Chair.
The Chairman: Colleagues, I thank you for your trust. I hope that I will be able to meet the expectations of the team and the people who are counting on good results from this study.
We must now elect a deputy chairman. Are there any motions?
Senator DeWare: I move that Senator Spivak be the deputy chairman of the subcommittee.
The Chairman: Are there any other motions?
There being none, is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Honourable senators, we require the following motion:
That the Chair and Deputy Chair be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the subcommittee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
Senator Kroft: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Honourable senators, the next motion we require is the following:
That the subcommittee print 150 copies of its proceedings and -- That the Chair be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
Senator DeWare: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
We require the following motion:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and a representative from the opposition are present.
Senator Finestone: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
The next motion is as follows:
That the subcommittee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the subcommittee;
That the Chair and Deputy Chair be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the subcommittee; and
That the Chair, on behalf of the subcommittee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Senator Kroft: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
We require the following motion:
That the subcommittee empower the Chair to designate, as required, one or more members of the subcommittee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the subcommittee.
Senator DeWare: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
The next motion reads as follows:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses' expenses, the subcommittee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chair be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
Senator Finestone: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
We require the following motion:
That the Chair and the Deputy Chair be authorized to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings.
Senator Kroft: I so move.
The Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
The time slot for regular meetings is still under discussion. Ms Heather Lank, Principal Clerk of the Committees Directorate, proposed that the committee meet at noon on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, that is not convenient for some members, so the matter will have to be reviewed with Ms Lank and both Whips. We are looking for a regular slot.
With regard to future business of the subcommittee, honourable senators, you have before you a memo of November 17 regarding possible options for review by the subcommittee. It was sent to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications and was discussed by the full committee. Further to the discussion on these options held by the full committee, a draft was prepared and submitted, which you now have in hand, on a framework for possible chapters of the study, which would be entitled "Convergence, Competition & Consumers." I have discussed this draft with Senator Spivak, who has much to contribute. We want to ensure that each member of the subcommittee has a copy of the draft and an opportunity for input, following which a new draft will be prepared for discussion at the next subcommittee meeting.
Senator Finestone: I read carefully the outline for the introduction and the proposal. Rather than the title "Convergence, Competition & Consumers," I would prefer "Convergence, Competition & Canadians" because Canadians are affected by convergence, competition, new technologies, et cetera. Is the title cast in stone or could we change it to "Convergence, Competition & Canadians"?
The Chairman: This title was used in the motion that went to the full Senate, but I am sure it could be changed.
Members of the committee have also received a copy of the financial requirements discussed by the full Transport and Communications Committee. The chair of the standing committee will appear before the Internal Economy Committee tomorrow morning with this request.
Are there any other matters? There being none, we will adjourn.
The committee adjourned.