Report of the committee
Thursday, April 6, 2017
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2016, to examine and report on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, 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; and
(b) to travel outside 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,
GHISLAIN MALTAIS
Chair
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Study on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, October 6, 2016:
The Honourable Senator Mercer moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Hubley:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to examine and report on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector, including:
(a) reasons behind the increasing value of Canadian farmland;
(b) concerns of agricultural stakeholders and the challenges they face in acquiring farmland;
(c) possible solutions to resolve issues resulting from the acquisition of farmland; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2017, and that the committee 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.
Charles Robert
Clerk of the Senate
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SUMMARY OF BUDGET
| Activity 1: Washington, DC | $ | 94,781 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 94,781 | ||
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Président du Comité sénatorial permanent de l’agriculture et des forêts GHISLAIN MALTAIS Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry | |
| Date | Président du Comité permanent de la régie interne, des budgets et de l’administration LEO HOUSAKOS Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
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 2017-2018: $94,781
Estimate of the total cost of the special study: $94,781
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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Study on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2018
| ACTIVITY 1: FACT FINDING TRIP TO WASHINGTON, DC | ||||||
| 17 participants: 15 Senators, 1 Clerk, 1 Analyst | ||||||
| PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES | ||||||
| HOSPITALITY | ||||||
| 1. | Hospitality - meals (0410) | 2,400 | ||||
| 2. | Hospitality - gifts (0424) | 200 | ||||
| Sub-total | $2,600 | |||||
| TRANSPORTATION, ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING EXPENSES | ||||||
| 1. | Transportation - air | 49,300 | ||||
| 15 senators x $2,900 (0224) | ||||||
| 2 staff x $2,900 (0227) | ||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 22,950 | ||||
| 15 senators, $450/night, 3 nights (0222) | ||||||
| 2 staff, $450/night, 3 nights (0226) | ||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 6,681 | ||||
| ($98.45 USD = $130.86 CDN on Feb. 28, 2017) | ||||||
| 15 senators, $131/day, 3 days (0221) | ||||||
| 2 staff, $131/day, 3 days (0225) | ||||||
| 4. | Working meals (travel) (0231) | 5,000 | ||||
| 5. | Taxis | 2,550 | ||||
| 15 senators x $150 (0223) | ||||||
| 2 staff x $150 (0232) | ||||||
| 6. | Charter bus (0228) | 3,000 | ||||
| (3 days, $1,000/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $89,481 | |||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||
| OTHER | ||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 500 | ||||
| TELECOMMUNICATIONS | ||||||
| 2. | International telephone charges (0275) | 100 | ||||
| PRINTING | ||||||
| 3. | Printing (0321) | 100 | ||||
| RENTALS | ||||||
| 4. | Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540) | 2,000 | ||||
| (2 days, $1,000/day) | ||||||
| Sub-total | $2,700 | |||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $94,781 | |||||
| Grand Total | $ 94,781 | |||||
The Senate Administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Date | Blair Armitage, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate | |
| Date | Nathalie Charpentier, Comptroller, Finance and Procurement Directorate |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, April 6, 2017
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry for the proposed expenditures of the said committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, for the purpose of its special study on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2016. The approved budget is as follows:
| Activity 1: Washington, DC | $ | 58,590 | ||
| TOTAL | $ | 58,590 | ||
(includes funds for a fact-finding mission; includes funds for 8 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;
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In keeping with the claw back process that is already in effect, any unexpended funds allocated in this budget for travel will be returned to the central committees’ budget at the end of October 2017, to ensure that funds are not tied up unnecessarily. These funds will be made available for redistribution to all committees for travel in the Fall of 2017, upon application to the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
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,
LEO HOUSAKOS
Chair