Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs,
Science and Technology
Issue 10 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 6, 1998
(18)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building at 3:30 p.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Lowell Murray, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cools, Ferretti Barth, Johnstone, Kenny, LeBreton, Maheu, Murray and Rossiter (8).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Terrence Thomas, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on March 19, 1998, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-10, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act.
WITNESSES:
Hon. Consiglio Di Nino, Sponsor of the Bill.
From the Don't Tax Reading Coalition:
Jacqueline Hushion, Chairperson;
David Hunt, National Coordinator.
From the Department of Finance:
Steve Tierney, Director, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch;
Tom McGirr, Chief, Economic Analysis and Revenue Allocation, Sales Tax Division;
Kevin White, Tax Policy Officer, Sales Tax Division.
From the Canadian Business Magazine:
Paul Jones, President and Publisher; Founding Director, ABC Canada Literacy Foundation.
The Chairman made an opening statement.
The Honourable Senator Consiglio Di Nino, the sponsor of the Bill, made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed that the Honorable Senator Di Nino would provide the committee with definitions of `other reading material'.
Jacqueline Hushion made a statement and was joined by David Hunt to answer questions.
Steve Tierney made a statement and was joined by Tom McGirr and Kevin White to answer questions.
It was agreed that the Department of Finance would provide the committee with a chart comparing Canadian and European Union rates of taxation on books and reading materials.
Paul Jones made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed that Mr. Jones and the Don't Tax Reading Coalition would provide the committee with a chart of what happens in OECD countries and in G-7 countries on various kinds of reading materials.
It was agreed that Mr. Jones would provide the committee with aggregate numbers from an annual survey conducted by the Canadian Magazine Publishers' Association, dealing with magazine circulation.
It was agreed that the aggregate data would compare 1990, the year before the GST came in, and 1997 or 1998.
At 5:30 p.m. the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 12, 1998
(19)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 172-E, Centre Block, at 8:00 a.m. in camera, the Chairman, the Honourable Lowell Murray, presiding.
Members of the committee present:The Honourable Senators Cools, Ferretti Barth, Jessiman, Johnstone, LeBreton and Murray (5).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Lavoie-Roux and Phillips (2).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament, Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on November 5, 1997, the committee resumed consideration of the implementation and application of Chapter 1, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and the Canada Shipping Act, and the associated Federal Child Support Guidelines (for complete text of Order of Reference see Proceedings of the Committee, Issue No. 3, dated December 16, 1997).
The Chairman made an opening statement.
It was agreed that the issue of enforcement of the Guidelines would be dealt with at the end of consideration of other sections.
It was agreed that a copy of the research framework referred to in testimony given by Murielle Brazeau of the Department of Justice would be obtained.
It was agreed that the Clerk would arrange a third in camera meeting, outside regular committee meeting times, before June 2, 1998 to further consider the summary of evidence.
At 9:30 a.m. the committee suspended its sitting.
At 9:32 a.m. the committee resumed sitting in public to consider the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs report entitled "Guarding History: A Study into the Future, Funding, and Independence of the Canadian War Museum."
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cools that the subcommittee report be adopted.
The question being put to the motion, it was agreed.
At 9:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chairman.
ATTEST:
Nadine S. Huggins
Acting Clerk of the Committee