Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 19 - Evidence - Meeting of June 21, 2007
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 21, 2007
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, to which was referred Bill C-52, to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007, met this day at 10:02 a.m. to give clause-by-clause consideration to the bill.
Senator Joseph A. Day (Chairman) in the chair.
[English]
The Chairman: I call this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance to order.
Honourable senators, are you prepared to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-52, to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Eggleton: On division.
Senator Angus: What did he say?
The Chairman: I asked if there was consent to proceed, and he said "on division.''
Honourable senators, I have Bill C-52 before me, and I would like to refer you to the "Table of Provisions.'' We could proceed on a clause-by-clause basis and deal with each of the clauses individually, but there are 154 clauses, many of which are not contentious.
There are 14 general subject-matter parts in the bill. I propose that we proceed part by part, outlining the clauses in each part and the general subject matter, then seeing if committee members wish to engage in more extensive discussion. Is it agreed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Having agreed, I am still required to proceed with the first clause in the following manner: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Honourable senators, Part I of the bill is comprised of clauses 2 to 42 and is entitled "Amendments Related to Income Tax.'' The first portion relates to income trusts, the Education Savings Act, et cetera.
Shall clauses 2 to 42 carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Some Hon. Senators: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Shall Part II, amendments to the Excise Tax Act, clauses 43 to 44, carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Some Hon. Senators: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Part III is deals with amendments in respect of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax, Excise Tax Act, et cetera, clauses 45 to 53.
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Murray: On division. The visitor rebate program is being abolished.
The Chairman: Those clauses shall carry, on division.
Part IV deals with other measures respecting taxation. This is the customs tariff. I see clauses 54 to 59. They include payments to the Province of Ontario for the purpose of the federal government collecting the corporate tax for the Province of Ontario, the sum of $400 million over two years.
Shall clauses 54 to 59 carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Some Hon. Senators: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Shall Part 5, clause 60, the Tax-back Guarantee Act, carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Murray: Where are you?
The Chairman: I am on Part V.
Senator Murray: I am following the binder that we were given. I see Part 5, clause 62.
The Chairman: It changed. We should follow the bill.
Senator Murray: All right. I have it here.
The Chairman: Senator Murray, I want to ensure that we are all together on this. Part V is the Tax-back Guarantee Act. I heard no dissent when the question was put, so clause 60 carries.
Senator Angus: Unanimously.
The Chairman: Part VI, the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, includes the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act under the heading "Consequential Amendments.''
Senator Murray: Shall we defeat it now or will wait until we get into the chamber?
The Chairman: It contains clauses 61 through to 84.
Senator Cowan: On division.
The Chairman: Those clauses carry, on division.
Part VII is amendments to the Financial Administration Act, clauses 85 to 89.
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Rompkey: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Shall Part VIII, amendments to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act, clause 90, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Shall Part IX, amendments relating to eligible financial contracts, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, et cetera, clauses 91 through to 123, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Part X deals with payments to provinces and territories, the Clear Air and Climate Change Trust Fund and various trust fund transfers. This part is comprised of clauses 124 through to 131. Shall those causes carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Carried.
An Hon. Senator: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Shall Part XI, entitled "Payments to Certain Entities,'' the Nature Conservancy of Canada and others, clauses 132 to 143, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Eggleton: Could you read the title of clause 127?
The Chairman: It deals with the human papillomavirus immunization.
Senator Eggleton: We are in favour of that. There is no division on that clause.
The Chairman: It is the payment to that organization that is important.
We are now on Part XII, which relates to sunset clauses in the Bank Act and a number of other statutes. It deals with an extension of time and is comprised of clauses 144 through to 150. Shall those clauses carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Part XIII is amendments to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act. It is comprised of 151 to 153. Shall those clauses carry?
Some Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Senator Rompkey: On division.
The Chairman: Carried, on division.
Part XIV is amendments to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act, clause 154. Shall that clause carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Carried.
Shall I report the bill back to the Senate at the earliest opportunity without amendments but indicating that it was agreed to, on division?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Shall I thank the staff on your behalf?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chairman: Thank you very much.
Senator Angus: Can we thank you, Mr. Chairman, for a very fine job, so far?
The Chairman: On division.
I would like to indicate that this was the first major piece of legislation that our clerk, Lynn Gordon, dealt with, and she did a fine job.
I thank you all for your good work. This was a difficult job and we did it well, as the Senate would expect of us.
The committee adjourned.