Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue No. 27 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 12, 2017

OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 12, 2017
(85)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9:30 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bovey, Cormier, Dawson, Gagné, Galvez, Griffin, MacDonald, Mercer, Plett and Tkachuk (10).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais and Mitchell (2).

In attendance: Jed Chong and Nicole Sweeney, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Marcy Galipeau, Chief, Committees and Outreach, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Friday, December 8, 2017, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Marc Garneau, P.C., M.P., Minister of Transport.

WITNESSES:

Transport Canada:

Helena Borges, Associate Deputy Minister;

Brigitte Diogo, Director General, Rail Safety;

Alain Langlois, General Counsel and Deputy Executive Director.

The chair made a statement.

The minister made a statement and, together with Ms. Borges, Ms. Diogo and Mr. Langlois, answered questions.

At 11:24 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:27 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, the committee continued its examination of the regulatory and technical issues related to the deployment of connected and automated vehicles. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

It was agreed:

That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to:

Approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting's discussions, including, if needed, the recommendations, the executive summary, the preface and the report design, with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required;

Make decisions on behalf of the committee to publicize the report with the support of the Senate Communications Directorate.

It was agreed:

That the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate or, if the Senate is not then sitting, that the chair be authorized to seek permission in the Senate to deposit the report with the Clerk of the Senate.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee considered a draft agenda (future business).

At 11:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Victor Senna

Clerk of the Committee