Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and
Commerce
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 18, 1999
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 11:00 a.m. in room 505, Victoria Building, for its organization meeting.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Cook, Gill, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kelleher, P.C., Kinsella, Kolber, Kroft, Meighen, Oliver, Taylor and Tkachuk (12).
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of a the Chairman.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette -- That the Honourable Senator Kolber be Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kelleher, -- That the Honourable Senator Tkachuk be Deputy Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Oliver, -- That the subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation;
That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and
That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Meighen, -- That the committee print 500 copies of its Proceedings and that the Chairman be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kelleher, -- That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chairman be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of the government and a representative from the opposition are present.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Tkachuk, -- That, pursuant to rule 104, the Chairman be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Meighen, -- That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee;
That the Chairman be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it.
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and
That the Chairman, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft reports.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, -- That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chairman or in the Chairman's absence, the Deputy Chairman; and
That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred individually on the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and the Clerk of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Meighen, -- That the committee empower the steering committee to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to:
1) determine whether any member of the committee is on "official business" for the purposes of paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, published in the Journals of the Senate on Wednesday, June 3, 1998; and
2) consider any member of the committee to be on "official business" if that member is: (a) attending a function, event or meeting related to the work of the committee; or (b) making a presentation related to the work of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Hervieux-Payette, -- That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one witness from any one organization and payment will take place upon application, but that the Chairman be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Oliver, -- That the Chairman be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was also agreed -- That the committee would meet on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. and on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. in room 505, Victoria Building.
The committee proceeded in camera to discuss future business.
At 12:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 24, 1999
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 3:30 p.m. in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable E. Leo Kolber, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Fitzpatrick, Furey, Kenny, Kolber, Kroft, Mahovlich, Oliver and Tkachuk (9).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Alexandre Laurin, Research Officer.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
From McGill University:
Mr. Reuven Brenner, Faculty of Management.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 23, 1999, the committee began its examination into the present state of the domestic and international financial system and in particular its study of the capital gains tax.
Mr. Brenner made an opening statement and then answered questions.
At 5:00 p.m., the committee proceeded in camera to discuss future business.
At 5:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 25, 1999
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 11:05 a.m. in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chairman, the Honourable E. Leo Kolber, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Fitzpatrick, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kenny, Kolber, Kroft, Meighen and Tkachuk (8).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Mr. Marion Wrobel, Senior Analyst, Economics Division and Alexandre Laurin, Research Officer.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
From C.D. Howe Institute:
Mr. Jack Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 23, 1999, the committee resumed its examination into the present state of the domestic and international financial system and in particular its study of the capital gains tax.
Mr. Mintz made an opening statement and then answered questions.
At 12:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gary Levy
Clerk of the Committee