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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue 1 - First and Second Reports of the Committee

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Wednesday, February 11, 2004

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

FIRST REPORT

Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament are as follows:

1. With respect to its examination of legislation:

Professional and Other Services	$ 1,243
Transport and Communications	—
Other Expenditures	—
Total	$ 1,243
Witness Expenses	$ 43

2. With respect to its study of issues facing the intercity busing industry:

Professional and Other Services	$ 4,153
Transport and Communications	—
Other Expenditures	1,287
Total	$ 5,440
Witness expenses	—

3. With respect to its study of the current state of Canadian media industries:

Professional and Other Services	$ 20,589
Transport and Communications	1,022
Other Expenditures	1,109
Total	$ 22,720
Witness expenses	$ 10,300

Your Committee notes that witness expenses are not paid out of the budgets of individual committees.

Your Committee received 3 orders of reference from the Senate during the session in question. It held 38 meetings during this period, receiving evidence from 83 witnesses over more than 62 hours, and submitted 5 reports to the Senate.

In its First Report, which was tabled in the Senate on October 29, 2002, your Committee reported its expenses and activities in the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament, pursuant to Rule 104.

Your Committee's Second Report, presented in the Senate on December 5, 2002, requested financing for the conclusion of the work on intercity busing in Canada begun during the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament. The Senate adopted this report on December 10, 2002.

Your Committee concluded its work on intercity busing in Canada by tabling its Third Report in the Senate on December 11, 2002. This report contained six recommendations for significant restructuring of the sector.

On March 20, 2003, your Committee presented its Fourth Report, dealing with Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act. The report contained observations endorsing the content and philosophy of the Bill but noting various issues and concerns identified during the study.

Your Committee's Fifth Report, presented in the Senate on April 3, 2003, requested financing for its study of the Canadian news media. The Senate adopted this report on May 6, 2003. For the rest of the Session your Committee focussed its work on this Order of Reference. It held hearings on the current state of Canadian media industries; emerging trends and developments in these industries; the media's role, rights, and responsibilities in Canadian society; and current and appropriate future policies relating thereto. This work was interrupted by the prorogation of the Session before the report on this topic could be prepared.

Respectfully submitted,

JOAN FRASER

Chair

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Thursday, February 19, 2004

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

SECOND REPORT

Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Friday, February 13, 2004, to examine and report on the current state of Canadian media industries; emerging trends and developments in these industries; the media's role, rights, and responsibilities in Canadian society; and current and appropriate future policies relating thereto, respectfully requests that it be empowered to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of such study.

Pursuant to section 2:07 of the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operation of Senate Committees, 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,

JOAN FRASER

Chair

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APPENDIX (A) TO THE REPORT

STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

STUDY OF THE CANADIAN MEDIA

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2004

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Friday, February 13, 2004:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Fraser, seconded by the Honourable Senator Joyal, P.C.:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to examine and report on the current state of Canadian media industries; emerging trends and developments in these industries; the media's role, rights, and responsibilities in Canadian society; and current and appropriate future policies relating thereto;

That the Committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than Thursday, March 31, 2005; and

That the papers and evidence received and taken on the subject and the work accomplished during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the Committee.

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

Paul Bélisle

Clerk of the Senate

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SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES

Professional and Other Services	$ 25,800
Transportation and Communications	0
All Other Expenditures	1,000
TOTAL	$ 26,800

The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications on Tuesday, February 17, 2004.

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

_________     __________________________________________________________
Date                Joan Fraser
                       Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

_________     __________________________________________________________
Date                Lise Bacon
                       Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration

FOR INFORMATION ONLY