Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue No. 5 - Minutes of Proceedings - September 19, 2016 - Morning

EDMONTON, Monday, September 19, 2016
(22)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9 a.m., in the Quartz Ballroom, 2nd Floor, Matrix Hotel, the deputy chair, the Honourable Michael L. MacDonald, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black, MacDonald, Mercer and Unger (4).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Mitchell (1).

In attendance: Jed Chong, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Tony Spears, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, the committee continued its study on the development of a strategy to facilitate the transport of crude oil to eastern Canadian refineries and to ports on the East and West coasts of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)

WITNESSES:

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce:

James Merkosky, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors;

Scott McEachern, Member of the Board of Directors.

Edmonton Economic Development Corporation:

Adam Sweet, Senior Advisor to the President.

Alberta Enterprise Group:

David MacLean, Vice-President of Communications and Policy.

Natural Resources Canada:

Heather D. Dettman, Research Scientist, CanmetENERGY.

It was agreed:

That the committee allow coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver with the least possible disruption of its hearings.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. McEachern and Mr. Sweet made statements and, together with Mr. Merkosky, answered questions.

At 10:10 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:15 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. MacLean made a statement and answered questions.

At 11 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:08 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Dettman made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:07 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee