Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications
Issue 1 - Evidence, June 14, 2011
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 10:07 a.m., pursuant to rule 88 of the Rules of the Senate, to organize the activities of the committee.
[English]
Keli Hogan, Clerk of the Committee: Honourable senators, there is a quorum. As clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair. I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
Senator Greene: I would like to nominate Senator Dawson as chair.
Ms. Hogan: Are there any other nominations?
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Greene that the Honourable Senator Dawson do take the chair of the committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Hogan: The second item is, because Senator Dawson has not arrived yet, to elect an acting chair of the committee.
Can I receive a motion to that effect?
Senator Mercer: I nominate Senator Greene.
Ms. Hogan: It was moved by Senator Mercer that the Honourable Senator Greene be acting chair of the committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Hogan: I invite Senator Greene to the chair.
Senator Stephen Greene (Acting Chair) in the chair.
The Acting Chair: We now move to the election of the deputy chair.
Can I have a nomination?
Senator Cochrane: I move that Senator Greene be deputy chair of this committee.
The Acting Chair: Senator Dawson is now here. I will relinquish the chair.
Senator Dennis Dawson (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Senator Cochrane has moved that Senator Greene be the deputy chair of the committee.
Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Adopted.
On the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, will someone move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the deputy chair, and one other member of the committee, to it be designated after the usual consultation; and
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.
Senator Mercer: I so move.
The Chair: On the motion to publish the committee's proceedings, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Zimmer:
That the committee publish its proceedings; and
That the chair be authorized to set the number of printed copies to meet demand.
So moved, so adopted.
[Translation]
Authorize and obtain meetings, and receive evidence when a quorum is not present.
It has been moved by Honourable Senator Boisvenu:
Pursuant to rule 89, the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and authorize the printing of evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a member of the committee from the government and a member of the committee from the opposition are present.
Motion agreed to.
Financial report.
It has been moved by Honourable Senator Plett:
That the committee adopt the draft of a first report written pursuant to Rule 104.
Motion agreed to.
[English]
On research staff, it is moved by the Honourable Senator MacDonald:
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 preparation of studies, analyses, summaries, and draft reports.
I invite the analysts to the table, if members agree.
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: On authority to commit funds and certify accounts, it is moved by Senator Manning:
That, pursuant to section 7, chapters 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.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: On travel, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Martin:
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.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: On designation of members travelling on committee business, it is moved by Senator Mercer:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purpose of paragraph 8(3) (a) of the Senate 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.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: On travelling and living expenses of witnesses, it is moved by Senator Mercer:
That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness 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.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: On communications, it is moved by the Honourable Senator Manning:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to direct communication 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.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The time slot for regular meetings is Tuesdays 9:30 to 11:30 and Wednesdays 6:45 to 8:45.
Senator Cochrane: Is there any way that we can have the other meeting during the day?
The Chair: Last year we asked the two whips if we could have it on Wednesday at noon instead of Wednesday night, but they did not answer our request. We could make an official request again.
Does anyone have a conflict on Wednesday at noon?
Senator Boisvenu: No, but can it be earlier, say at 6 o'clock?
The Chair: That is another problem.
Is anyone on a committee at four o'clock on Wednesday?
Senator Greene: I am.
The Chair: That means that he finishes at 6.
Senator Greene: It does not mean that we could not make it earlier than 6:45.
The Chair: I have no problem with that. If the whips agree, can we do it for 6:15?
Senator Martin: Or Wednesday from 12 to 2.
Senator MacDonald: The Senate sits at 1:30, so we do not have two hours.
Senator Cochrane: If you could look into that, senator?
The Chair: I will talk to both whips to see what can be done.
Senator Cochrane: We do not get out of here until 8:45 and that, to me, is a bit late.
The Chair: We will make a formal request for 6:15 and inquire into the possibility of having noon meetings, if possible.
Senator Cochrane: Even earlier.
The Chair: Is there any other business?
If everyone agrees that we want to continue our study on airports and airlines, the steering committee could ask the clerk to look at options for witnesses. It may be too late in June to think about witnesses for next week, but if we give the subcommittee the mandate, they could plan for meetings in late September.
Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I will read the following statement:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on emerging issues related to the Canadian airline industry, including but not limited to its performance and long-term viability, its place within Canada, its business relationship with their passengers, and its important economic effect in the Canadian communities where airports are located;
That the papers and evidence received, taken and work accomplished by the committee on this subject at the beginning of the third 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 28, 2012; and
That the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
Is that agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Is there other business?
Senator Plett: I was of the opinion that we were going to nominate and elect the third member of the steering committee.
The Chair: I have no problem with that.
Ms. Hogan: We actually did. We just did not name the person, but the motion was adopted.
Senator Plett: The motion was adopted, but do we not name the person?
Ms. Hogan: You do not have to. The motion says "after the usual consultation," which means there would be consultation on both sides and the name is determined, from the whip.
Senator Plett: Thank you.
Ms. Hogan: If we keep it open, if that person is absent we can easily replace them through the whip as opposed to coming to the committee for a formal motion.
Senator Manning: I refer back to Item No. 13 on the agenda, just for a point of information. I served on National Security and Defence and on the Subcommittee for Veterans Affairs in the last session of Parliament, and we used to meet on Wednesdays at lunch time and have a shortened meeting. We used to finish at about 1:15 because the Senate would start at 1:30. We used to start at 12 and have a meeting of one hour and 15 minutes. That is just a point of information, if you are looking at a Wednesday schedule.
I am only filling in here today.
Senator Greene: It might depend on when the witnesses are available. Sometimes we might have to do it on Wednesday evening and other times.
The Chair: I think the concept is to have regular meetings so that we do not have to reappear before the committee to request changes in the hours of the committee.
Senator Plett: I want to go a little further on what Senator Manning said. I also am not a regular here; I am filling in today. I am also on National Defence and Security and likely will be on Veterans Affairs.
I do not believe that there is enough time for this committee to meet in that time slot, even for the subcommittee. You must do what you feel is right, but I would encourage you not to sit in that slot because you will be very pressed for time.
The Chair: We will start with 6:15 to 8:15. If that goes well, we can continue that way. If not, we can readdress the issue next autumn.
On in camera meetings, it is moved by Senator Mercer:
That each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.
Is that agreed, honourable senators?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: The agenda is finished.
(The committee adjourned.)