Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce
Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
(3)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met in camera at 4:10 p.m., this day, in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable W. David Angus, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Fitzpatrick, Goldstein, Meighen, Moore and Ringuette (7).
In attendance: June Dewetering and Philippe Bergevin, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee proceeded to study its draft agenda (future business).
It was agreed that the committee hear more witnesses, as well as to hold public hearings in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Montreal and Toronto, concerning the study on issues dealing with interprovincial barriers to trade in Canada.
It was agreed that the hearings concerning the study of Bill C-12 will take priority after the holiday break.
It was agreed that, in the event that it is referred to the committee shortly, hearings concerning the study of Bill C-10 will be held before the holiday break.
It was agreed that the fact-finding trip to Washington be postponed to the spring.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee considered draft reports.
The committee considered the following draft legislative budget application:
Professional and Other Services $ 34,000 Transportation and Communications $ 0 All Other Expenditures $ 8,000 TOTAL $ 42,000
The Honourable Senator Biron moved:
That the legislative budget application in the amount of $42,000 be adopted and that the chair present the same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budget and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee considered the following draft special study budget application (present state of the domestic and international financial system):
Professional and Other Services $ 42,300 Transportation and Communications $ 80,025 All Other Expenditures $ 2,000 TOTAL $ 124,325
The Honourable Senator Moore moved:
That the special study budget application (present state of the domestic and international financial system) in the amount of $124,325 be adopted and that the chair present the same to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budget and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
The committee considered the following draft special study budget application (issues dealing with interprovincial barriers to trade in Canada):
Professional and Other Services $ 28,000 Transportation and Communications $ 11,625 All Other Expenditures $ 300 TOTAL $ 39,925
The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved:
That the special study budget application (issues dealing with interprovincial barriers to trade in Canada) be adopted with the addition of necessary funds to include public hearings in Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal and Toronto, and that the chair present the revised budget to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budget and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 5:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 29, 2007
(4)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met at 10:50 a.m., this day, in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable W. David Angus, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Goldstein, Harb, Meighen, Moore, Peterson and Ringuette (8).
In attendance: June Dewetering and Philippe Bergevin, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on November 15, 2007, the committee began its study of the Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Wage Earner Protection Program Act and chapter 47 of the Statutes of Canada, 2005.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, P.C., M.P., Minister of Labour;
Colin Carrie, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry.
WITNESSES:
Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada:
Munir A. Sheikh, Deputy Minister of Labour;
Sylvie Heartfield, Chief, Policy Development.
Industry Canada:
Roger Charland, Senior Director, Corporate and Insolvency Law Policy and Internal Trade;
Matthew Dooley, Senior Project Leader, Corporate and Insolvency Law Policy and International Trade.
Human Resources and Social Development Canada:
Rosaline Frith, Director General, Canada Student Loans Program;
John Hemingway, Program Analyst, Canada Student Loans Program.
At 11 a.m., the Honourable Senator Goldstein noted for the record that while he has had dealings with matters of bankruptcy and insolvency professionally, he is satisfied that he does not have a private interest in the committee's current study pursuant to the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators and intends to participate in deliberations on this matter.
At 11:05 a.m., Mr. Blackburn made a statement and, together with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 11:50 a.m., Mr. Carrie made a statement and, together with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 12:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee