Report of the committee
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications has the honour to present its
SEVENTH REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to examine and report on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors and the consequential impacts on their interdependencies, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered to:
(a)engage the services of such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary;
(b)travel inside Canada.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:05, section 1(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,
LEO HOUSAKOS
Chair
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Study of the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2025
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, February 10, 2022:
With leave of the Senate,
The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Wells:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors and the consequential impacts on their interdependencies, and measures needed to increase resiliency to those impacts;
That the committee also examine the impacts of critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors on climate change, and measures to reduce those impacts; and
That the committee submit its final report no later than November 30, 2023, and that the committee 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.
Interim Clerk of the Senate
Gérald Lafrenière
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, November 30, 2023:
The Honourable Senator Miville-Dechêne moved, for the Honourable Senator Housakos, seconded by the Honourable Senator Boehm:
That, notwithstanding the order of the Senate adopted on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the date for the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications in relation to its study on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors and the consequential impacts on their interdependencies be extended from November 30, 2023, to November 30, 2024.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Gérald Lafrenière
Interim Clerk of the Senate
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SUMMARY OF BUDGET
| Activity 1: Montreal, Quebec | $ | 18,910 | ||
| Activity 2: Hamilton, Ontario | $ | 26,185 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 45,095 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Président du Comité sénatorial permanent des transports et des communications LEO HOUSAKOS Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications | |
| Date | Présidente du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration LUCIE MONCION Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Study of the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2025
| ACTIVITY 1: Montreal, Quebec | ||||||
| FACT-FINDING | ||||||
| 15 participants: 12 senators, 3 staff | ||||||
| (1 clerk, 1 Committees Directorate staff, 1 analyst) | ||||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Transportation - train | 1,500 | ||||
| 12 senators x $50 (0224) | ||||||
| 3 staff x $300 (0227) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 8,610 | ||||
| 12 senators, $574/night, 1 night (0222) | ||||||
| 3 staff, $574/night, 1 night (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 4,050 | ||||
| 12 senators, $135/day, 2 days (0221) | ||||||
| 3 staff, $135/day, 2 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Working meals (travel) (0231) | 750 | ||||
| 5. | Taxis | 3,000 | ||||
| 12 senators x $200 (0223) | ||||||
| 3 staff x $200 (0232) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $17,910 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 1,000 | ||||
| Sub-total | $1,000 | |||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $18,910 | |||||
| ACTIVITY 2: Hamilton, Ontario | ||||||
| FACT-FINDING | ||||||
| 15 participants: 12 senators, 3 staff | ||||||
| (1 clerk, 1 Committees Directorate staff, 1 analyst) | ||||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Transportation - train | 2,010 | ||||
| 12 senators x $80 (0224) | ||||||
| 3 staff x $350 (0227) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 13,350 | ||||
| 12 senators, $445/night, 2 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 3 staff, $445/night, 2 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 6,075 | ||||
| 12 senators, $135/day, 3 days (0221) | ||||||
| 3 staff, $135/day, 3 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Working meals (travel) (0231) | 750 | ||||
| 5. | Taxis | 3,000 | ||||
| 12 senators x $200 (0223) | ||||||
| 3 staff x $200 (0232) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $25,185 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 1,000 | ||||
| Sub-total | $1,000 | |||||
| Total of Activity 2 | $26,185 | |||||
| Grand Total | $ 45,095 | |||||
The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Date | Shaila Anwar, Clerk Assistant, Committees Directorate | |
| Date | Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Procurement Directorate |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, for its special study on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The approved budget is as follows:
| Activity 1: Montreal, Quebec | $ | 18,910 | ||
| Activity 2: Hamilton, Ontario | $ | 26,185 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 45,095 |
(includes funds for fact-finding missions and for 12 senators to travel)
The budgets approved by the Senate for each travel activity are the maximum amount that can be spent for that activity. Budgets normally include funds for the full membership of the committee to travel. In general, a reduced delegation actually travels and efforts are made to find additional savings. Therefore, actual expenditures are expected to be considerably below the approved budget, and they will be proactively disclosed. Any funds remaining at the conclusion of a travel activity will be clawed-back and can be made available for allocation to committees for other activities.
Respectfully submitted,
LUCIE MONCION
Chair