Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 7 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 16, 2005
(16)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 4:02 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., Kelleher, P.C., Massicotte, Meighen, Moore and Plamondon (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Oliver (1).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, Jean Dupuis and Sheena Starky, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, the committee continued its consideration of consumer issues arising in the financial services sector. (See Issue No. 1, November 18, 2004, for the full text of the Order of Reference.)
WITNESSES:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:
Heather Black, Assistant Privacy Commissioner;
Patricia Kosseim, General Counsel;
Anne Rooke, Acting Director General, Investigations and Inquiries Branch.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre:
Sue Lott, Counsel.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Black made a statement and, together with Ms. Kosseim and Ms. Rooke, answered questions.
At 5:20 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:22 p.m., the committee resumed.
Ms. Lott made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 17, 2005
(17)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 11:02 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., Kelleher, P.C., Massicotte, Moore, and Plamondon (10).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Oliver (1).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, Jean Dupuis and Sheena Starky, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, the committee continued its consideration of consumer issues arising in the financial services sector. (See Issue No. 1, November 18, 2004, for the full text of the Order of Reference.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Federation of Independent Business:
Catherine Swift, President and Chief Executive Officer;
André Piché, Director of National Affairs.
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Compensation Corporation:
Gordon M. Dunning, President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Swift made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:09 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:10 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Dunning made a statement and answered questions.
At 12:55 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera to consider its agenda.
At 1:02 p.m., the committee proceeded in public to consider draft budgets.
The Honourable Senator Angus moved that the following budget applications for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 be concurred in; and, that the Chair submit same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration:
Special Study on Productivity
| Professional and Other Services | $ 4,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 1,500 |
| Total | $ 6,000 |
Special Study on Demographics
| Professional and Other Services | $ 4,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 1,500 |
| Total | $ 6,000 |
Special Study on Interprovincial Barriers to Trade
| Professional and Other Services | $ 4,500 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 1,500 |
| Total | $ 6,000 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Angus moved that the following budget application for the study of legislation for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 be concurred in; and, that the Chair submit same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and Other Services | $ 22,000 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 8,000 |
| Total | $ 30,000 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Plamondon moved that the following budget application for a special study on consumer issues arising in the financial services sector for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 be concurred in; and, that the Chair submit same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and Other Services | $ 26,000 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 0 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 2,000 |
| Total | $ 28,000 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Moore moved that the following budget application for a special study on the present state of the domestic and international financial system for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006 be concurred in; and, that the Chair submit same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
| Professional and Other Services | $ 26,050 |
| Transportation and Communications | $ 76,150 |
| All Other Expenditures | $ 2,000 |
| Total | $ 104,200 |
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 1:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee