Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 9, 2010
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9:35 a.m., in room 257, East Block, for the purpose of holding its organization meeting, pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dawson, Frum, Housakos, Johnson, MacDonald, Martin, Mercer, Merchant, Pépin, Plett and Zimmer (11).
In attendance: Terry Thomas, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Mona Ishack, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
The clerk of the committee presided over the election of the chair.
The Honourable Senator Housakos moved:
That the Honourable Senator Dawson do take the chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Dawson assumed the chair.
The Honourable Senator Pépin moved:
That the Honourable Senator Housakos be deputy chair of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Housakos moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, deputy chair and the Honourable Senator Frum; 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 Mercer moved:
That the committee publish its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number of printed copies to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Housakos moved:
That, pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the publication 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 Plett 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 Merchant moved:
That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign 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 Johnson 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 Plett 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 Mercer 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 a function, 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 Zimmer 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 Johnson moved:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communications officer(s) assigned to the committee in the development of communications plans where appropriate and to request the services of the Senate Communications Directorate for the purposes of their development and implementation;
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 chair noted that the time slots for regular meetings were Tuesdays (9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and Wednesdays (6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.).
The chair introduced Ms. Mona Ishack as the communications officer assigned to the committee.
It was agreed that each member of the committee be allowed to have staff present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
At 9:42 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:44 a.m., the committee pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda.
After debate, it was agreed that the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to its communications mandate and on the wireless sector, including issues such as access to high-speed Internet, the supply of bandwidth, the nation-building role of wireless, the pace of the adoption of innovations, the financial aspects associated with possible changes to the sector, and Canada's development of the sector in comparison to the performance in other countries;
That the papers and evidence received and taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject since the beginning of the Second Session of the Fortieth Parliament be referred to the committee; and
That the committee report to the Senate from time to time, with a final report no later than June 22, 2010 and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
It was agreed that the committee adopt the draft work plan.
At 10:03 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 30, 2010
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9:31 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the deputy chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cochrane, Fox, P.C., Housakos, Johnson, MacDonald, Martin, Mercer and Plett (8).
In attendance: Terry Thomas, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament and Mona Ishack, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, the committee began its study on the emerging issues related to its communications mandate — wireless sector.
WITNESSES:
Bell Canada:
Mirko Bibic, Senior Vice-President, Regulatory and Government Affairs;
David Krause, Director, Economic Analysis.
Bell Aliant:
Denis E. Henry, Vice-President, Regulatory and Government Affairs and Chief of Privacy.
The deputy chair made a statement.
Mr. Bibic and Mr. Henry each made a presentation, and, with Mr. Krause, answered questions.
At 10:57 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11 a.m., the committee pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), resumed in camera to discuss future business.
At 11:02 a.m., it was agreed that the committee adjourn to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Keli Hogan
Clerk of the Committee