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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue 6 - Minutes

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OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 24, 2001
(8)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9:30 a.m., in Room 256-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, Callbeck, Finestone, P.C., Fitzpatrick, Forrestall, Maheu and Milne (7).

In attendance: Martin Brennan, special advisor to the Committee.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on February 7, 2001, the committee proceeded to study Bill S-3. (See Issue No. 2, Tuesday, March 13, 2001 and Wednesday, March 14, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference).

WITNESS:

As an individual:

Peter Turner.

The witness made a presentation and answered questions.

Peter Turner submitted a brief.

At 10:22 a.m., it was agreed - That the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

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OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 2, 2001
(9)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 5:30 p.m., in Room 256-S, Centre Block, the Chair, the Honourable Lise Bacon, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Bacon, De Bané, P.C., Finestone, P.C., Hubley, Kinsella, Maheu, Poulin, Sparrow and Spivak (9).

In attendance: Martin Brennan, special advisor to the committee.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on February 7, 2001, the committee proceeded to study Bill S-3. (See Issue No. 2, Tuesday, March 13, 2001 and Wednesday, March 14, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference).

WITNESS:

From the Department of Transport Canada:

Elizabeth McNab, Counsel, Legal Services.

Ms. McNab answered questions.

It was agreed, - That clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-3 proceed.

It was agreed, - That the title be stood.

It was agreed, - That clause 1 be stood.

It was agreed, - That clause 2 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 3 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 4 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 5 carry.

The Honourable Senator Spivak moved, - That Bill S-3 be amended in clause 6, on page 6, by replacing line 9 with the following:

"spection, entry on premises and the provision of information;".

It was agreed, - That the amendment to clause 6 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 6, as amended, carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 7 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 8 carry.

The Honorable Senator Finestone moved, - That Bill S-3 be amended in clause 9, on page 8,

(a) by adding, after line 26, the following:

"ANNUAL REPORT

25. (1) The Minister shall prepare an annual report and cause a copy of it to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister completes it.

(2) The annual report of the Minister shall contain the following in respect of the year:

(a) the available statistical information respecting trends of highway accidents in Canada involving motor vehicles operated by extra-provincial bus undertakings and extra-provincial truck undertakings; and

(b) a progress report on the implementation of rules and standards respecting the safe operation of extra-provincial bus undertakings and of extra-provincial truck undertakings."; and

(b) by replacing line 27 with the following:

"26. (1) The Minister shall, after the expiry".

The Honourable Senator Spivak moved, - That the motion in amendment be amended to insert in the last line of the proposed Section 25 (2) (a), after the word "undertakings" the following:

"reported separately for bus undertakings and truck undertakings; and"

After debate, the question being put on the sub-amendment, it was adopted.

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, as amended, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Maheu moved, - That Bill S-3 be amended by adding, on page 9, after line 5, the following:

"(3) The Minister shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament during the first thirty sitting days of that House following its completion."

It was agreed, - That clause 9, as amended, carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 10 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 11 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 12 carry.

The officials were called to the table to answer questions.

The Honourable Senator Spivak moved, - That Bill S-3 be amended in clause 13, on page 10,

(a) by replacing line 1 with the following:

"13. (1) The provisions of this Act, and the"; and

(b) by adding after line 5, the following:

"(2) No provision of this Act shall come into force until the Minister of Transport has caused a report to be made to both houses of Parliament to the effect that the National Safety Code for Motor Carriers has been fully implemented in every province."

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was defeated.

It was agreed, - That clause 13 carry.

It was agreed, - That clause 1 carry.

It was agreed, - That the title carry.

It was agreed, - That Bill S-3, as amended, carry.

It was agreed, - That Bill S-3 be reported to the Senate with amendments and observations.

At 6:45 p.m., it was agreed - That the Committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Michel Patrice

Clerk of the Committee

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