Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Evidence - April 26, 2006
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 6:15 p.m., pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Adam Thompson, Clerk of the Committee: As clerk of this committee it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive nominations to that effect.
Senator Tkachuk: I move that Senator Bacon be chair of the committee.
Mr. Thompson: Are there other nominations? Seeing none, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk that the Honourable Senator Bacon do take the chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Mr. Thompson: Carried. I invite Senator Bacon to take the chair.
Senator Lise Bacon (Chairman) in the chair.
The Chairman: Thank you, Senator Tkachuk, for your confidence in me. We have much work ahead and I will need the support of members to complete what has already been started before the end of the session.
I need a motion for the election of a deputy chair.
Senator Dawson: I move that Senator Tkachuk be deputy chair of the committee.
Senator Merchant: I support Senator Tkachuk as well.
The Chairman: All in favour of the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
The next motion deals with the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure being composed of the chair, the deputy chair and one other senator to invite witnesses and to schedule hearings.
Do I have a motion for the third member of the steering committee?
Senator Phalen: I move that Senator Munson be the third member of the subcommittee.
The Chairman: Are there others? All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried. Senator Munson, you are the third member.
I need a motion for item 4 to print the committee's proceedings and that the chair set the number to meet demand.
Senator Tkachuk: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Motion 5 is to authorize the committee to hold meetings and to print evidence when a quorum is not present.
Senator Fraser: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Motion 6 deals with the financial report.
[Translation]
That the committee adopt the draft version of the first report prepared pursuant to rule 104.
[English]
I need a motion.
Senator Tkachuk: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Motion 7 is:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research analysts to the committee;
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;
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
That the chair, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
Senator Mercer: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[Translation]
Item No. 8, authority to commit funds and certify accounts.
That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 7, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority to commit funds be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and section 8, chapter 3:06 of the Senate Administrative Rules, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the Chair, the Deputy Chair, and the Clerk of the Committee.
[English]
I need a motion to that effect.
Senator Munson: I so move.
Senator Munson: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Motion 9 is that the committee empower the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure 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.
Senator Mercer: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Motion 10 is:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
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
2) consider any member of the committee to be on official business if that member is attending an event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
Do I have a mover?
Senator Tkachuk: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
[Translation]
Item No. 11, Travelling and living expenses of witnesses.
It is moved by the honourable senator Merchant,
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses' expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any 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 Chairman: Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
[English]
The Chairman: Carried. Motion 12 is:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage at its discretion.
Senator Munson: I so move.
The Chairman: All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
[Translation]
Time slot for regular meetings. Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 6:15 p.m.
[English]
That is the time slot for regular meetings. Under other business, I have a motion, of which you have copies.
I move:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report 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;
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than the end of June —
Senator Fraser: I would say June just in case.
The Chairman: June would be appropriate if we are not ready in May. Are members agreed on June? Is that too late, Senator Carney?
Senator Carney: No.
The Chairman: All agreed on June?
Senator Carney: The earlier the better.
The Chairman: We will try for May but say June, just in case. The motion continues with:
... and that the committee retain until July 31, 2006 all powers necessary to publicize its findings; and
That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the committee on the subject since the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the committee.
I need a mover to that effect.
Senator Johnson: I so move.
The Chairman: We will do our best, Senator Tkachuk, to have this adopted tomorrow so that we can distribute the documents to all members, if at all possible.
Senator Tkachuk: I will talk to my house leader tomorrow morning.
The Chairman: I will do the same.
Senator Tkachuk: Then we will phone each other during the morning to get it organized.
The Chairman: We will distribute the report to all the members so that we can begin our work on the report.
The committee adjourned.