Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 23 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 21, 2001
(25)
[English]
The Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and commerce met at 3:50 p.m. this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Senator Kolber, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Banks, Bryden, Fitzpatrick, Furey, Kolber, Kroft, Oliver, Poulin, Setlakwe and Tkachuk (11).
Others senators present: The Honourable Senators Bolduc and Gustafson (2).
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Economic Division: Mr. Alexandre Laurin, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 20, 2001, the committee resumed its examination into the present state of the domestic and international financial system and in particular its study on Canada-United States Borders Issues. (See Issue No. 6, March 28, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference.)
WITNESSES:
From the Customs Excise Union:
Serge Charette, National President
Mr. Charette made an opening statement and answered questions.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2001, the committee began its examination of Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Export Development Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
Pat O'Brien, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade
WITNESSES:
From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade:
Martin H. Jensen, Export Finance Officer, Export Financing Division;
Marie-Lucie Morin, Director General, International Business Development Policy and Planning.
From the Department of Finance:
Peter Cameron, Senior Chief, International Finance and Economic Analysis Division.
From the Export Development Corporation (EDC):
Eric Siegel, Executive Vice-President, Medium and Long-Term Financial Services;
Gilles Ross, Senior Vice-President, Legal Services, and Secretary;
Mary Grover-LeBlanc, Vice-President, Corporate Reputation and External Relations.
From Probe International:
Patricia Adams, Executive Director.
From the Halifax Initiative:
Émilie Revil, Coordinator, NGO Working Group on the Export Development Corporation.
As an individual:
Richard C. Owens.
Mr. O'Brien made a statement and with the witnesses from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade answered questions.
Mr. Siegel made opening remarks and with the other witnesses from the Export Development Corporation answered questions.
Ms Adams, Ms Revil and Mr. Owen made statements and answered questions.
At 7:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Denis Robert
Clerk of the Committee