TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Merv Tweed, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:23 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Ed Fast, — That the Committee report to the House the following:

• That the Committee recommend that the Government amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to clarify the English and French versions of section 14 so as to remove Canada Post’s exclusive privilege to deliver letter mail to destinations outside Canada;

And that the Chair draft a letter to the Minister on behalf of the Committee outlining the recommendation made in this motion.

The debate continued.

Joseph Volpe moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “so as to remove Canada Post’s exclusive privilege to deliver letter mail to destinations outside Canada; And that the Chair draft a letter to the Minister on behalf of the Committee outlining the recommendation made in this motion” with the words “and issue this Directive to Canada Post Corporation pursuant to the Minister of Transport’s authority under Section 22 of the Canada Post Corporation and in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, and direct that:

A. In accordance with Section 19 of the Canada Post Corporation Act, the Corporation shall propose a regulation amending the Letter Definition Regulations, SOR 83/481 as set out in paragraph “B” of this Directive, and shall publish this proposed regulation in the next following issue of the Canada Gazette after receiving this Directive;

B. The Corporation shall propose and publish the regulations referred to in paragraph “A” of this Directive in the following terms: 1. The Letter Definition Regulations, SOR 83/481 are hereby amended by adding the following after subsection 2(m)(iv): (n) an item that is intended for delivery outside of Canada.

C. The Corporation shall not propose a regulation that is inconsistent with or contrary to the proposed regulation referred to in paragraphs A and B;

D. The Corporation shall, at its option, discontinue, withdraw or consent to a judicial stay of proceedings in respect of allegations or judicial finding that entities have or continue to violate the exclusive privilege in Section 14 of the Canada Post Corporation Act with respect to letters intended for delivery outside of Canada and, where an injunction has been issued with respect to letters intended for delivery outside of Canada, the Corporation shall consent to an application brought to dissolve such an injunction, but nothing in this Directive shall require the Corporation to take or refrain from taking any action with respect to allegations concerning letters intended for delivery within Canada”.

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Fast moved, — That the Committee defer consideration of the motion to the meeting on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.

Mauril Bélanger moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “to the meeting on Wednesday, May 2, 2007” with the words “until such time as the Minister has come forward with his report on the matter of remailers”.

Debate arose thereon.

Peter Julian moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 3.

At 5:48 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.