Thursday, April 14, 2016

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications has the honour to present its

THIRD REPORT

Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, to study 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, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered:

(a)  to engage the services of such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary;

(b)  to adjourn from place to place within Canada; and

(c)  to travel inside Canada.

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(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,

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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

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

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2017

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Wednesday, March 9, 2016:

The Honourable Senator Dawson moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Moore:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report 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;

That the committee also examine how to share the risks and benefits as broadly as possible throughout the country; and

That the committee report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2016, and that it retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

ATTEST:

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SUMMARY OF BUDGET

The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications on April 12, 2016.

The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.

GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE SPECIAL STUDY

Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(2) of the Senate Administrative Rules.

Expenses for fiscal year 2016-2017: $370,000

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APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT

Thursday, April 14, 2016

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, 2017, for the purpose of its special 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, as authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The approved budget is as follows:

(includes funds for public hearings and fact-finding missions; includes funds 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 reported to the Senate;

Any surplus 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,