Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 19 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 3, 2005
(44)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 10:50 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Fitzpatrick, Grafstein, Massicotte, Moore, and Tkachuk (6).
In attendance: 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:
Insurance Bureau of Canada:
Randy Bundus, Vice-President and General Counsel.
Reinsurance Research Council of Canada:
André Fredette, Chair.
Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association:
James Brierley, Chairman, President, Munich Re Canada;
James S. Witol, Vice-President, Taxation and Research.
Canadian Institute of Actuaries:
Charles McLeod, President.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Bundus and Mr. Brierley made statements and, together with Mr. Fredette and Mr. Witol, answered questions.
At 12:25 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 12:32 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. McLeod made a statement and answered questions.
At 1:15 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:18 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded in camera for the purpose of considering its agenda.
At 1:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 23, 2005
(45)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 5:15 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, Goldstein, Grafstein, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Meighen, Moore, Tardif, Tkachuk and Zimmer (11).
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 Wednesday, November 23, 2005, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-55, An Act to establish the Wage Earner Protection Program Act, to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Joseph Frank Fontana, P.C., M.P., Minister of Labour and Housing;
The Honourable Jerry Pickard, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry.
WITNESSES:
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:
John McKennirey, Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour;
Gay Stinson, Director, Labour Policy Development.
Industry Canada:
Gilles Gauthier, Director, Corporate and Insolvency Law Policy;
Joseph Allen, Senior Project Leader, Corporate and Insolvency Law Policy.
The Chair made an opening statement.
The Honourable Joseph Frank Fontana and the Honourable Jerry Pickard made statements and, together with Mr. McKennirey, Ms. Stinson, Mr. Gauthier and Mr. Allen, answered questions.
At 6:10 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:18 p.m., the committee resumed in room 2, Victoria Building.
The Honourable Joseph Frank Fontana and the Honourable Jerry Pickard, together with Mr. McKennirey, Ms. Stinson, Mr. Gauthier and Mr. Allen, continued to answer questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-55, An Act to establish the Wage Earner Protection Program Act, to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the committee group clauses according to the different headings in the legislation.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that clauses 2-123 carry.
It was agreed that clauses 124-131 carry.
It was agreed that clauses 132-135 carry.
It was agreed that clauses 136-139 carry.
It was agreed that clause 140 carry.
It was agreed that clause 141 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the Bill carry.
It was agreed that pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee proceed in camera to discuss observations that could be appended to the report on the Bill.
DECLARATIONS OF PRIVATE INTERESTS
Pursuant to subsection 14(1) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators, declarations of private interests were made as follows:
By oral declaration, the Honourable Senator Angus (Bill C-55, An Act to establish the Wage Earner Protection Program Act, to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts).
At 8:10 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 24, 2005
(46)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met in camera this day, at 11:30 a.m., in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Goldstein, Grafstein, Harb, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Meighen, Moore, and Tkachuk (8).
In attendance: June Dewetering, Acting Principal, and Sheena Starky, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
It was agreed that Senators' and committee staff be permitted to stay in the room during the in camera meeting.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, November 23, 2005, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-55, An Act to establish the Wage Earner Protection Program Act, to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee considered a draft report.
It was agreed that the Chair report the bill to the Senate without amendment but with observations.
At 11:55 a.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered its agenda.
At 12:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 24, 2005
(47)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day, at 4:35 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Cowan, Di Nino, Fitzpatrick, Goldstein, Grafstein, Gustafson, Harb, Moore, and Tkachuk (11).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Kinsella (1).
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 Wednesday, November 23, 2005, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-259, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (elimination of excise tax on jewellery).
WITNESSES:
John Duncan, M.P., Vancouver Island North.
Finance Canada:
Jim Daman, Director, Sales Tax Division;
Andrew Otto, Senior Tax Policy Officer, Sales Tax Division.
As an individual:
Abbey Evenchick.
The Chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Duncan, M.P., made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:41 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:45 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Otto made a statement and, with Mr. Daman, answered questions.
At 6:24 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:30 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Evenchick made a statement and answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-259, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (elimination of excise tax on jewellery).
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the Bill carry.
It was agreed that the Chair report the bill to the Senate without amendments and without observations.
At 6:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Clerk of the Committee