Scenario Note
Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications (TRCM)
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Time: 6:45PM – 7:45PM
Location: Room B45, Senate of Canada Building (and by videoconference)
Subject: The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 2 of Part 3, and Divisions 22 and 23 of Part 4 of Bill C-47, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023
Appearing:
The Hon. Omar Alghabra, P.C, M.P, Minister of Transport (6:45 pm to 7:45 pm)
Witnesses:
Panel 1 (6:45 pm to 7:45 pm)
Transport Canada
- Serge Bijimine, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy
- Colin Stacey, Director General, Air Policy
- Tamara Rudge, Director General, Surface Transportation Policy
- Alain Langlois, Senior General Counsel and Executive Director, Transport and Infrastructure Legal Services
Opening Remarks: Minister to deliver remarks (5-7 mins)
About TRCM
The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications has the mandate to examine legislation and study issues related to transport and communications by land, air, water, and space, whether by radio, telephone, telegraph, wire, cable, microwave, wireless, television, satellite, broadcasting, postal communications or any other form, method or means of communications. It also deals with matters relating to tourist traffic, common carriers, shipping, and navigable waters.
The committee deals with significant legislation and studies issues important to Canadians. Over the last few years, it has considered bills touching on everything from telecommunications to the transportation of dangerous goods and concluded studies on emerging issues of great significance for Canada’s economy.
TC-related Committee activity within the last year
The first study initiated by TRCM during the 44th Parliament was on the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure in the transportation and communications sectors and the consequential impacts on their interdependencies, and the committee has held a total of seven meetings thus far. As part of this study, committee members unanimously adopted a motion – moved by Senator Pamela Wallin (Canadian Senators Group, Saskatchewan) – to invite the Minister of Transport, Transport Canada officials and airlines stakeholders on February 15, 2023, to discuss recent issues related to public air travel.
The committee has also held two meetings as part of the pre-study of Part 10 of Bill S-6, An Act respecting regulatory modernization in May 2022.
The primary focus of the committee during the Fall-Winter session was on Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. During the Winter-Spring session the focus of the committee has been Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada and Bill S-242, An Act to amend the Radiocommunication Act.
Reason for inviting Transport Canada
On April 27, 2023, the Senate adopted a motion to authorize various committees to examine the subject matter of Bill C-47, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate. As part of this motion, the Transport and Communications committee was authorized to study those elements contained in Division 2 of Part 3, and Divisions 22 and 23 of Part 4 of Bill C-47.