Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 8 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 9, 2005
(18)
[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 Biron, Fitzpatrick, Grafstein, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kelleher, P.C., Massicotte, Moore and Plamondon (9).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, and Sheena Starky, Analyst, 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:
Centre for the Financial Services OmbudsNetwork:
Huguette Labelle, Chair and Independent Director;
Pierre Gravelle, Chief Executive Officer.
Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments:
Michael Lauber, Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer;
Peggy-Anne Brown, Chair of the Board of Directors.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Labelle and Mr. Gravelle made statements and answered questions.
At 5:14 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:18 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Lauber and Ms. Brown made statements and answered questions.
At 6:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, March 10, 2005
(19)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 11:07 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Grafstein, Harb, Kelleher, P.C., Massicotte, Moore, and Plamondon (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Oliver (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, 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:
General Insurance OmbudService:
Lea Algar, Chairperson;
Pierre Meyland, Independent Director, Québec.
Canadian Life and Health Insurance OmbudService:
The Honourable Gilles Loiselle, P.C., Chair;
Barbara Waters, General Manager.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. Algar made a statement and, together with Mr. Meyland, answered questions.
At 12:06 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:13 p.m., the committee resumed.
It was agreed that the committee consider its agenda.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Plamondon that the Chair be authorized to seek from the Senate an extension to the date of presenting its final report on issues dealing with charitable giving in Canada from March 31, 2005 to November 30, 2005, and that the committee retain until January 31, 2006 all powers necessary to publicize its findings.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The Honourable Mr. Loiselle, P.C., made a statement and, together with Ms. Waters, answered questions.
At 1:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee