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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 28

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at 3:38 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Merv Tweed, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Don H. Bell, Robert Carrier, Ed Fast, Hon. Charles Hubbard, Brian Jean, Peter Julian, Mario Laframboise, David J. McGuinty, Hon. Andy Scott, Brian Storseth, Merv Tweed and Jeff Watson.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Allison Padova, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of Transport: Helena Borges, Director General, Surface Transportation Policy; Brigita Gravitis-Beck, Director General, Air Policy; Alain Langlois, Legal Counsel, Legal Services.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, September 21, 2006, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

The Committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

On Clause 11,

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Don H. Bell, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing lines 29 to 32 on page 6 with the following:

“52. (1) Each year, before a date fixed by the Minister, the Minister shall prepare and lay before the Senate and the House of Commons a report briefly”

The debate continued.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Brian Jean moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing lines 26 to 34 on page 6 with the following:

“11. (1) Subsection 52(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

52. (1) Each year before the end of May, the Minister shall, using the most current information available, prepare and lay before both Houses of Parliament a report providing a brief overview of the state of transportation in Canada.”

The question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Brian Jean moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing line 35 on page 6 with the following:

“(2) Subsection 52(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) Every five years, the report referred to in subsection (1) shall be expanded to a comprehensive review of the state of transportation in Canada which shall include

(a) the financial performance of each mode of transportation and its contribution to the Canadian economy;

(b) the extent to which carriers and modes of transportation were provided resources, facilities and services at public expense;

(c) the extent to which carriers and modes of transportation received compensation, indirectly and directly, for the resources, facilities and services that were required to be provided as an imposed public duty;

(c.1) the long term outlook and trends in transportation in Canada; and

(d) any other transportation matters that the Minister considers appropriate.”

The question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Clause 11, as amended, carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Clause 12 carried.

On Clause 13,

David J. McGuinty moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 13, be amended by adding after line 4 on page 8 the following:

“(2.1) The guidelines referred to in subsection (2) shall be made public and shall specify the criteria that are to be applied by the Minister in making a decision under subsection (4) or (5). Those criteria must be different from the criteria that are applicable to any assessment that is performed under the Competition Act or any other Act of Parliament.”

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was allowed to stand.

By unanimous consent, Clause 13 was allowed to stand.

On Clause 14,

Peter Julian moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 14, be amended

(a) by replacing, in the English version, line 17 on page 12 with the following:

“of an air service if the federal government or a provincial or a municipal government de-”

(b) by replacing, in the English version, line 19 on page 12 with the following:

“law, and that government”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to.

Clause 14, as amended, carried.

Clause 15 carried.

Clause 16 carried.

On Clause 17,

Peter Julian moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 17, be amended by replacing line 1 on page 13 with the following:

“(1.2) A licensee shall, as soon as practicable, provide an opportunity”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Peter Julian moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 17, be amended by replacing line 11 on page 13 with the following:

“is seasonal in nature in a community with a population of less than 10,000 for eight months or less in a”

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was allowed to stand.

By unanimous consent, Clause 17 was allowed to stand.

Clause 18 carried.

Clause 19 carried.

Clause 20 carried.

Clause 21 carried.

Clause 22 carried.

Clause 23 carried.

Clause 24 carried.

On Clause 25,

Mario Laframboise moved, — That Bill C-11, in Clause 25, be amended by replacing line 19 on page 16 with the following:

“behalf, shall review and attempt to resolve the”

Debate arose thereon.

Peter Julian moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the word “attempt” with the words “may attempt”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the subamendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The question was put on the amendment of Mario Laframboise, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Mark D'Amore
Clerk of the Committee

2006/12/01 9:36 a.m.