Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 17 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 19, 2005
(40)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 3:45 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, Massicotte, Moore, Plamondon and Tkachuk (9).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Goldstein (1).
In attendance: Alexandre Laurin, 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 23, 2004, the committee began its consideration on issues dealing with the demographic change that will occur in Canada within the next two decades; the implications of that change for Canada's economy, labour market and retirement income system; and federal actions that could be taken to ensure that any implications of future demographic change are, to the extent possible, properly addressed.
WITNESSES:
Department of Finance Canada:
Benoît Robidoux, Director, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Economic Studies and Policy Analysis Division.
Statistics Canada:
Pamela White, Director, Demography Division;
Alain Bélanger, Coordinator, Research and Analysis, Demography Division.
Policy Research Initiative:
Terrance Hunsley, Senior Project Director;
Alain Denhez, Associate Project Director.
The Conference Board of Canada:
Paul Darby, Deputy Chief Economist.
C.D. Howe Institute:
William B.P. Robson, Senior Vice-President and Director of Research.
Canadian Federation of Independent Business:
Richard Fahey, Vice-President, Québec;
Rob Taylor, Senior Policy Analyst, National Affairs.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Ms. White, Mr. Robidoux, and Mr. Hunsley made statements and, with Mr. Denhez and Mr. Alain Bélanger, answered questions.
At 5:35 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:40 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Chair made a statement.
Mr. Darby, Mr. Robson and Mr. Fahey made statements and, with Mr. Taylor, answered questions.
The Chair made a closing statement.
At 7:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 20, 2005
(41)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 10:35 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, Grafstein, Massicotte, Meighen, Moore, Plamondon and Tkachuk (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Goldstein (1).
In attendance: Alexandre Laurin, 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 23, 2004, the committee continued its consideration on issues dealing with the demographic change that will occur in Canada within the next two decades.
WITNESSES:
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions:
Jean-Claude Ménard, Chief Actuary.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development:
Steven Tobin, Economist, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, Employment Analysis and Policy Division.
New America Foundation:
Phillip Longman, Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow.
As individuals:
Robert L. Brown, Director, Institute of Insurance & Pension Research and Professor, Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo.
Jacques Henripin, Professor Emeritus, University of Montréal.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Longman, Mr. Ménard and Mr. Tobin made statements and answered questions.
At 12:20 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:30 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Chair made a statement.
Mr. Henripin and Mr. Brown made statements and answered questions.
At 1:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee