Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 21, 2001
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 5:33 p.m., in Room 256-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Angus, Bacon, Callbeck, De Bané, P.C., Finestone, P.C., Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Setlakwe and Spivak (10).
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament, Terry Thomas.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The committee proceeded to organize pursuant to rule 88.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick moved that the Honourable Senator Bacon be Chair of this committee
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Bacon took the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Angus moved that the Honourable Senator Forrestall be Deputy Chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Adams moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Deputy Chair and Senator Callbeck; and -- That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Forrestall moved -- That the committee print its proceedings; and
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That the Chair be authorized to set this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved -- 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 member of the committee of the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed -- That pursuant to rule 104, the Chair be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.
It was agreed -- That the Honourable Senator Finestone and the Honourable Senator Spivak would review the draft report prepared in the second session of the Thirty-sixth Parliament of the Subcommittee on Communications and make recommendations to the Committee.
The Honourable Senator Finestone, P.C. moved -- That the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Setlawke moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
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That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fitzpatrick moved -- That pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Clerk of the Committee; and
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That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the Committee be conferred on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Callbeck moved -- That the Committee empower the Chair to designate, as required, one or more members of the Committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the Committee; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
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1) determine whether any member of the Committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
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2) consider any member of the Committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the Committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the Committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Angus moved -- That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the Committee 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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed -- That, the following budget application be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, subject to the granting by the Senate of authority to engage the service of personnel:
| SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES | |
| Professional and Special Services | $ 9,400 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 300 |
| Other Expenditures | $ 300 |
| Total | $ 10,000 |
The Honourable Senator Finestone, P.C. moved -- That the Chair be authorized to submit an emergency funds application pursuant to guideline 3:03 for the amount of $10,000 for its legislative activities.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed -- That, the Chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The Chair informs the committee members of the time slot for the regular meetings.
At 5:55 p.m., it was agreed -- That the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 1, 2001
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 10:00 a.m., in Room 160-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Bacon, Callbeck, Finestone, P.C., Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Milne, Rompkey, P.C., Setlakwe and Spivak (10).
In attendance: Martin Brennan, special advisor to the Committee.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on February 7, 2001, the Committee proceeded to study Bill S-5. (See Issue No. 1, Wednesday, February 21 and Thursday, March 1, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference).
WITNESSES:
From Transport Canada:
Brenda Baird, Director General, Surface Programs and Divestiture;
Brian E. Hicks, Senior Analyst, Surface Divestiture;
Robert Green, Departmental General Counsel, Legal Services.
From Blue Water Bridge Authority:
Dan M. Elash, General Manager;
Duncan McCallum, Vice-President and Director of RBC Dominion Securities;
Ted Gibson, Consultant.
The witnesses from Transport Canada made a presentation and answered questions.
The witnesses from Blue Water Bridge Authority made a presentation and answered questions.
Robert Green and Brenda Baird were asked back as witnesses to answer questions.
It was agreed -- That the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-5.
It was agreed -- That the title stand postponed.
It was agreed -- That clause 1 carry.
It was agreed -- That clause 2 carry.
It was agreed -- That clause 3 carry.
It was agreed -- That the Title carry.
It was agreed -- That the Bill carry.
It was agreed -- That the Chair report the bill, as adopted, to the Senate today.
The following witnesses submitted a brief: Transport Canada and Blue Water Bridge Authority.
At 11:20 a.m., it was agreed -- That the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Michel Patrice
Clerk of the Committee