Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 25, 2009
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day, at 6:32 p.m., in room 356-S, Centre Block, for the purpose of organization, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Cochrane, Dawson, Eyton, Fox, P.C., Housakos, Merchant, Wallace and Zimmer (9).
In attendance: Terrence Thomas and Nathalie Pothier, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, 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 Cochrane 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 Merchant moved that the Honourable Senator Johnson be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair and the Honourable Senator Fox, P.C.; 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 Cochrane 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 Zimmer 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 Eyton moved that the committee adopt the draft first report, prepared in accordance with rule 104(2).
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Merchant moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research analysts to the committee;
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 Housakos moved:
That, pursuant to 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;
That, pursuant to 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; and
That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Fox, P.C., 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 Housakos 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; and
That the subcommittee report at the earliest opportunity any decisions taken with respect to the designation of members of the committee travelling on committee business.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Cochrane 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 Wallace moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The chair informed the committee of the time slot for its regular meetings.
At 6:40 p.m., the committee considered its future business.
At 6:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met in camera, at 6:32 p.m. this day, in room 256-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Cochrane, Eyton, Fox, P.C., Housakos, Johnson, Mercer, Merchant, Wallace and Zimmer (10).
In attendance: Terrence Thomas, Allison Padova and Nathalie Pothier, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered its draft agenda.
It was agreed that each committee member be allowed to have staff persons present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek the authority of the Senate for an order of reference on the subject of the wireless industry and that the final wording of the order or reference be approved by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure based on comments of members made today.
At 7:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 1, 2009
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met at 6:32 p.m. this day, in room 256-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Bacon, Dawson, Fox, P.C., Housakos, Manning, Mercer, Merchant, Stratton, Wallace and Zimmer (11).
In attendance: Terrence Thomas, and Nathalie Pothier, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, the committee began its study on the emerging issues related to its communications mandate and to report on the wireless sector.
WITNESSES:
Industry Canada:
Len St. Aubin, Director General, Telecommunications Policy Branch;
Pamela Miller, Senior Director, Business and Regulatory Analysis;
Louis LePage, Manager, Industry Framework, Industry Framework Policy.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee commenced in camera to consider its draft agenda.
At 7:53 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.
At 7:54 p.m., the committee resumed in public.
The Honourable Senator Dawson moved:
That the following legislative budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, in the amount of $10,000, be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
Summary of Expenditures
| Professional and other services: | — |
| Transportation and Communications | 8,000 |
| All Other Expenditures | 2,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 10,000 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved:
That the following budget application (wireless sector) for the committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010 be approved for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
Summary of Expenditures
| Professional and other services | $ 26,800 |
| Transportation and Communications | 596,670 |
| All Other Expenditures | 22,250 |
| TOTAL | $ 645,720 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Len St. Aubin made a statement and, together with Pamela Miller and Louis LePage, answered questions.
At 8:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vanessa Moss-Norbury
Clerk of the committee