Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue 12 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 10, 2014

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 10, 2014
(45)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 6:45 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Dennis Dawson, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Batters, Dawson, Eggleton, P.C., Greene, Housakos, MacDonald, Plett, Unger and Verner, P.C. (9).

In attendance: Terrence Thomas and Dillan Theckedath, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Mona Ishack, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Monday, December 9, 2013, the committee continued its study on the challenges faced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in relation to the changing environment of broadcasting and communications. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESS:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

Rémi Racine, Chairman of the Board.

After debate, it was agreed that a certified copy of the November 26, 2014 resolution of the National Assembly of Québec on the Société Radio-Canada be filed as an exhibit (Exhibit 5900-41.2/T1- SS-1, 12 "3").

Mr. Racine made a statement and answered questions.

A point of order was raised concerning a question posed by a senator and its relevance to the committee's order of reference.

The chair ruled on the point of order raised by the Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C. regarding a question to the witness from the Honourable Senator Batters relating to the termination of Jian Ghomeshi, the former host of the CBC Radio program "Q," and the participation by the CBC Board of Directors in the decision. Senator Eggleton, P.C. objected on the grounds that the question was beyond the scope of the order of reference. Other senators participated in the debate. The chair ruled that questions to the witness relating to the process followed by the board in its decision-making capacity are in order and fall within the scope of the order of reference, but that requests for specific details on individual cases are not in order.

At 8:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee