Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 5 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 2, 2005
(12)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 4:08 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Fitzpatrick, Grafstein, Harb, Hervieux- Payette, P.C., Massicotte, Moore, Oliver and Plamondon (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kelleher, P.C. (1).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, and Jean Dupuis, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-19, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).
WITNESSES:
Senate of Canada:
The Honourable Madeleine Plamondon, Senator, Sponsor of the Bill.
Department of Justice Canada:
Shawn Scromeda, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section.
Industry Canada:
Michael Jenkin, Director General, Office of Consumer Affairs.
Option consommateurs:
Louise Rozon, Director;
Jacques St-Amant, Analyst.
Institut québécois d'éthique appliquée:
René Villemure, President.
The Chair made an opening statement.
The Honourable Senator Plamondon made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Scromeda and Mr. Jenkin made statements and answered questions.
At 5:40 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:42 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Rozon and Mr. Villemure made statements and, together with Mr. St-Amant, answered questions.
At 6:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 3, 2005
(13)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 11:04 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Fitzpatrick, Grafstein, Harb, Hervieux- Payette, P.C., Massicotte, Moore and Plamondon (9).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck and Kelleher, P.C. (2).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, and Jean Dupuis, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-19, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate).
WITNESSES:
Canadian Bankers Association:
Warren Law, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Operations and General Counsel;
Jacques Hébert, Director, Québec;
François Hudon, Senior Vice-President, BMO Financial Group.
Canadian Bar Association:
Jennifer Babe, Vice-Chair, National Business Law Section;
Tamra L. Thomson, Director, Legislation and Law Reform.
Canadian Association of Community Financial Service Providers:
Robert A. Whitelaw, President and CEO;
Norman J.K. Bishop, Board Secretary;
Peter Tzanetakis, Associate, Ernst & Young, LLP.
Vanier Institute of the Family:
Roger Sauvé, President, People Patterns Consulting;
Dr. Robert Glossop, Executive Director of Programs and Research.
Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services:
Henrietta Ross, Executive Director.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Warren made a statement and, together with Mr. Hébert and Mr. Hudon, answered questions.
At 11:52 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:55 a.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Thomson and Ms. Babe made statements and answered questions.
At 12:24 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:25 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Whitelaw made a statement and, together with Mr. Bishop and Mr. Tzanetakis, answered questions.
At 1:10 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:12 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Sauvé made a statement.
Ms. Ross made a statement.
At 1:22 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee