Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 13, 2007
(1)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day, at 10:05 a.m., in room 257, East Block for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Dawson, Oliver, Pépin and Tkachuk (5).
In attendance: Allison Padova and Terrence Thomas, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Oliver moved that the Honourable Senator Bacon do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Bacon took the chair.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the Honourable Senator Oliver be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and the Honourable Senator Dawson; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure 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 Dawson moved:
That the committee print its proceedings; and
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 Oliver 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 from both the government and the opposition be present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
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.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
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: (a) attending an 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 Pépin 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.
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
That the chair be authorized to seek permission 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 question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee considered the following legislative budget application:
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services $ 10,000 Transportation and Communications 8,000 All Other Expenditures 2,000 TOTAL $ 20,000
The Honourable Senator Tkachuk moved:
That the legislative budget application in the amount of $20,000 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the committee of the time slot for its regular meetings.
The committee proceeded to discuss its agenda.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the chair seek an order of reference to resume the committee's study on containerized freight traffic handled by Canada's ports began in the First Session of the Thirty-ninth Parliament.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee considered the following special study budget application (containerized freight traffic handled by Canada's ports):
Summary of Expenditures
Professional and Other Services $ 20,400 Transportation and Communications 110,364 All Other Expenditures 5,500 TOTAL $ 136,264
The Honourable Senator Oliver moved:
That the special study budget application (containerized freight traffic handled by Canada's ports) in the amount of $136,264 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 10:20 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 20, 2007
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day, at 9:33 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Merchant, Oliver, Phalen, Tkachuk and Zimmer (6).
In attendance: Allison Padova, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Pariament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, the committee began its consideration of containerized freight traffic handled by Canada's ports.
WITNESSES:
Prairie-to-Ports Gateway & Inland Port:
Doug Campbell, CEO.
City of Moose Jaw:
Dale McBain, Mayor.
Saskatchewan AgriVision Corp.:
C.M. (Red) Williams, President, and President of Prairie-to-Ports Gateway & Inland Port.
City of Saskatoon:
Donald Atchison, Mayor;
Randy Grauer, City Planner.
Mr. Campbell, Mr. Williams, Mr. McBain and Mr. Atchison each made opening statements and, together, answered questions.
The committee considered its agenda (future business).
At 10:38 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Denis Robert
Clerk of the committee