Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 2 - Evidence - November 19, 2002
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 19, 2002
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 10:34 a.m. to consider draft budgets.
Senator Joan Fraser (Chairman) in the Chair.
[English]
The Chairman: The draft budgets that we will discuss today and that will be presented to the Internal Committee are not for media inquiry. Rather, they concern other items. I would ask the clerk to explain these budgets, please.
Mr. Till Heyde, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, there are two budgets, one for the committee's legislative work this fiscal year for $17,500 and one for the busing study for $13,000. We will go through the legislative budget and then the busing budget.
Senators, the budget for legislation is a minor one. Please look at the last page of the information before you to see how it has been developed for the possibility of continuing Mr. Martin Brennan's services to a total of $9,000 for the fiscal year. There is an item for a communications consultant. On rare occasions in the past, the committee has hired a communications consultant to monitor media coverage of an item of proposed legislation that is before the committee and to assist with media questions, et cetera. It has not been in regular use but has been included in this budget in the event that it should be required. The last item in the draft budget is for working meals, which would be required when there is a fairly active legislative agenda before the committee.
I would note, in terms of both budgets, that they are largely continuations of budgets approved for this fiscal year for the previous session of Parliament. There have been some adjustments downwards. In this case, there is no inclusion of conferences, which would be included under different special study budgets.
The busing study budget is for $13,000. Again, because Mr. Brennan has been actively involved in the project from the outset earlier this year, there are provisions to continue working with him. There is a small item for editing the report, which would be necessary only if the committee found itself with a tight turnaround time for the editing. It is hoped that that service would be provided by government sources at no cost. There is also a limited item for working meals.
For this budget, it is possible that the expenses would come in lower if the committee adopts the report fairly expeditiously. However, as it is drafted, the budget provides for the committee to explore an item in more depth.
The Chairman: Concerning the busing study, we should be able to give you, for your consideration, a draft report at the Thursday meeting. Of course, that will remain confidential. We would then look at it next week.
Mr. Heyde: Next Tuesday.
The Chairman: You would have had time to examine it first. Are there questions about the budgets?
Senator Adams: Concerning the busing study budget of $13,000, the information we have shows that it has been approved for 2001-02 for $239,00 and now we have, for 2002-03, $157,000. Is that part of this or is that separate?
Mr. Heyde: Senator Adams is looking at the back, at the cover page, which provides historical information about expenditures that took place for the previous session. During 2001-02, the committee had a budget of close to $300,000 authorized for the busing study, of which about $160,000 was expensed when committee members were travelling to different areas of the country. In 2002-03, during the previous session before prorogation, the committee spent a little over $8,000, but it had $45,000.
In this budget originally, there was a trip planned to the United States. Given the developments and how things have evolved — prorogation and such — it was decided not to include this item. That creates a fairly substantial reduction rate of about $50,000 compared to what it was earlier this fiscal year.
Senator Spivak: That is prudent, given the current circumstances.
The Chairman: We are under-spending, basically. We are coming in well below what had originally been forecasted for the budget. Are there other questions?
Senator Setlakwe: That is fine because we should be under-spending.
The Chairman: Any there other questions? I need motions to approve these budgets. Is there a motion for the legislative budget?
Senator Spivak: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Is there a motion for the busing budget?
Senator Phalen: I so move.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: On Thursday, we are scheduled to meet for consideration of future business — notably the media inquiry. This will be travel time for senators, and a number of our members may or may not be able to attend. I would propose that we proceed with the meeting on the basis of what we now know will be available in the budget. However, we should be aware that we would not be making too many firm decisions because that would not be fair to the absent members. Are there any difficulties with that suggestion? The meeting will be Thursday at 11:45 and is listed as consideration of future business. I sent a letter about it to the committee members last week. We can also examine other future business items.
Senator Johnson: I have some information for the members of the committee for that previous request. Perhaps the clerk would distribute it to the committee members.
The Chairman: Is there any other business? Thank you, senators.
The committee adjourned.