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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 15 - Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Reports of the Committee

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to table its

SEVENTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on February 28, 2012, to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, herewith tables its report thereon.

Respectfully submitted,

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to table its

EIGHTH REPORT

Your committee, to which were referred the 2012-2013 Main Estimates, has, in obedience to the order of reference of Tuesday, February 28, 2012, examined the said Estimates and herewith tables its first interim report.

Respectfully submitted,

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Monday, April 2, 2012

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to present its

NINTH REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2011 to examine and report on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2013.

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that committee are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH A. DAY

Chair

STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL FINANCE

STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL REASONS FOR PRICE DISCREPANCIES IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN GOODS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THE VALUE OF THE CANADIAN DOLLAR AND THE EFFECT OF CROSS BORDER SHOPPING ON THE CANADIAN ECONOMY

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2013

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, October 6, 2011:

The Honourable Senator Gerstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy;

That, in conducting such a study, the committee take particular note of differences between Canada and the United States including, but not limited to, market sizes, transportation costs, tariff rates, occupancy costs, labour costs, taxes and fees, regulations, mark-up; and

That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2012, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Gary W. O'Brien

Clerk of the Senate

SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES

Professional and Other Services	$ 16,100
Transportation and Communications	$ 32,354
All Other Expenditures	$ 1,250
TOTAL	$ 49,704

The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance on March 14, 2012.

The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.

____________________________________________________________________________
Date                    Joseph A. Day
                           Chair, Standing Senate Committee on National Finance

____________________________________________________________________________
Date                   David Tkachuk
                          Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SPECIAL STUDY

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(2) of the Senate Administrative Rules, the general estimate of the total cost of the special study is $49,704.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL FINANCE

STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL REASONS FOR PRICE DISCREPANCIES IN RESPECT OF
CERTAIN GOODS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THE VALUE OF THE
CANADIAN DOLLAR AND THE EFFECT OF CROSS BORDER SHOPPING ON THE CANADIAN ECONOMY

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2013

GENERAL EXPENSES
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES
1.	Communications consultant - editing services (sole source) (0303)		15,000
		(50 days, $300/day)
Sub-total				$15,000
Total of General Expenses					$15,000
ACTIVITY 1: Toronto, Niagara Falls and Buffalo
FACT-FINDING
14 participants: 12 Senators, 2 staff (one committee clerk and one analyst from the Library of Parliament)
PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES
1.	Hospitality - meals (0410)		1,100
Sub-total				$1,100
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
	TRAVEL
1.	Transportation - air		21,000
		12 senators x $1,500 (0224)
		2 staff x $1,500 (0227)
2.	Hotel accommodation		4,200
		12 senators, $300/night, 1 night (0222)
		2 staff, $300/night, 1 night (0226)
3.	Per diem		2,464
		12 senators, $88/day, 2 days (0221)
		2 staff, $88/day, 2 days (0225)
4.	Working meals (travel) (0231)		850
5.	Taxis		2,240
		12 senators x $160 (0223)
		2 staff x $160 (0232)
6.	Charter bus (0228)		1,600
		(1 day, $1,600/day)
Sub-total				$32,354
ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES
	OTHER
1.	Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229)		500
	RENTALS
2.	Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540)		750
		(1 day, $750/day)
Sub-total				$1,250
Total of Activity 1					$ 34,704
Grand Total						$ 49,704

The Senate administration has reviewed this budget application.

_________________________________________________________
Heather Lank, Principal Clerk,                                            Date
Committees Directorate

_________________________________________________________
Nicole Proulx, Director of Finance and Procurement           Date

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APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance for the proposed expenditures of the said Committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 for the purpose of its special study on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2011. The said budget is as follows:

Professional and Other Services	$ 16,100
Transportation and Communications	32,354
All Other Expenditures	1,250
Total	$ 49,704

(includes funds for fact-finding mission)

Respectfully submitted,

DAVID TKACHUK

Chair

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