Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 7 - Fourth Report of the Committee
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance has the honour to present its
FOURTH REPORT
Your committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2011 to examine and report on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy, respectfully requests funds for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2012 and requests, for the purpose of such study, that it be empowered:
(a) to engage the services of such counsel, technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary;
(b) to travel inside Canada; and
(c) to travel outside Canada.
Pursuant to Chapter 3:06, section 2(1)(c) of the Senate Administrative Rules, 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,
JOSEPH A. DAY
Chair
STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL FINANCE
STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL REASONS FOR PRICE DISCREPANCIES IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN GOODS BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THE VALUE OF THE CANADIAN DOLLAR AND THE EFFECT OF CROSS BORDER SHOPPING ON THE CANADIAN ECONOMY
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2012
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Thursday, October 6, 2011:
The Honourable Senator Gerstein moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Martin:
That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy;
That, in conducting such a study, the committee take particular note of differences between Canada and the United States including, but not limited to, market sizes, transportation costs, tariff rates, occupancy costs, labour costs, taxes and fees, regulations, mark-up; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2012, and retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Gary W. O'Brien
Clerk of the Senate
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
| Professional and Other Services | $16,100 |
| Transportation and Communications | 32,354 |
| All Other Expenditures | 1,250 |
| TOTAL | $49,704 |
The above budget was approved by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance on October 19, 2011.
The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.
| Date | Joseph A. Day | |
| Chair, Standing Senate Committee on National Finance |
| Date | David Tkachuk | |
| Chair, Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration |
STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL FINANCE
STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL REASONS FOR PRICE DISCREPANCIES IN
RESPECT OF CERTAIN GOODS
BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, GIVEN THE VALUE OF THE CANADIAN DOLLAR
AND THE
EFFECT OF CROSS BORDER SHOPPING ON THE CANADIAN ECONOMY
EXPLANATION OF BUDGET ITEMS
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2012
| GENERAL EXPENSES | ||||||||
| PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES | ||||||||
| 1. | Communications consultant - editing services (sole source) (0303) | 15,000 | ||||||
| (50 days, $300/day) | ||||||||
| Sub-total | $15,000 | |||||||
| Total of General Expenses | $15,000 | |||||||
| ACTIVITY 1: Toronto, Niagara Falls and Buffalo | ||||||||
| FACT-FINDING | ||||||||
| 14 participants: 12 Senators, 2 staff | ||||||||
| PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER SERVICES | ||||||||
| 4. | Hospitality - meals (0410) | 1,100 | ||||||
| Sub-total | $1,100 | |||||||
| TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS | ||||||||
| TRAVEL | ||||||||
| 1. | Transportation - air | 21,000 | ||||||
| 12 senators x $1,500 (0224) | ||||||||
| 2 staff x $1,500 (0227) | ||||||||
| 2. | Hotel accommodation | 4,200 | ||||||
| 12 senators, $300/night, 1 night (0222) | ||||||||
| 2 staff, $300/night, 1 night (0226) | ||||||||
| 3. | Per diem | 2,464 | ||||||
| 12 senators, $88/day, 2 days (0221) | ||||||||
| 2 staff, $88/day, 2 days (0225) | ||||||||
| 4. | Working meals (travel) (0231) | 850 | ||||||
| 5. | Taxis | 2,240 | ||||||
| 12 senators x $160 (0223) | ||||||||
| 2 staff x $160 (0232) | ||||||||
| 6. | Charter bus (0228) | 1,600 | ||||||
| (1 day, $1,600/day) | ||||||||
| Sub-total | $32,354 | |||||||
| ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES | ||||||||
| OTHER | ||||||||
| 1. | Miscellaneous costs associated with travel (0229) | 500 | ||||||
| RENTALS | ||||||||
| 2. | Rental office space (meeting rooms) (0540) | 750 | ||||||
| (1 day, $750/day) | ||||||||
| Sub-total | $1,250 | |||||||
| Total of Activity 1 | $34,704 | |||||||
| Grand Total | $ 49,704 | |||||||
The Senate administration has reviewed this budget application.
| Heather Lank, Principal Clerk, Committees Directorate | Date |
| Nicole Proulx, Director of Finance and Procurement | Date |
APPENDIX (B) TO THE REPORT
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration has examined the budget presented to it by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance for the proposed expenditures of the said Committee for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 for the purpose of its special study on cross border shopping, as authorized by the Senate on Thursday, October 6, 2011. The said budget is as follows:
Professional and Other Services $ 16,100 Transportation and Communications 32,354 All Other Expenditures 1,250 Total $ 49,704
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TKACHUK
Chair