Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 27, 2008
(29)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met in camera this day at 9:38 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Terry Stratton, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dawson, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Nancy Ruth and Stratton (5).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean Dupuis, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, with the exception of Parliament Vote 15. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 7.)
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(f), the committee considered a draft report.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during this meeting.
At 9:53 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Denis Robert
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 28, 2008
(30)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 2:05 p.m., in room 160-S, Center Block, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Day, Di Nino, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (7).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean Dupuis, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2008, the committee began its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget.
WITNESSES:
As individuals:
David Cohen, Immigration Lawyer;
James Bissett.
Chinese Canadian National Council:
Victor Wong, Executive Director.
STATUS NOW! — Campaign in Defence of Undocumented Immigrants:
Naveen P. Mehta, Lawyer, Director, Human Rights, Equity and Diversity.
Canadian Arab Federation:
Khaled Mouammar, President.
Chinese Canadian Community Alliance:
Tom Pang, Acting President.
Canadian Ethnocultural Council:
Peter Ferreira, President.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Cohen, Mr. Bissett, Mr. Wong and Mr. Mehta made statements.
At 2:45 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:45 p.m., the committee resumed.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Mouammar, Mr. Pang and Mr. Ferreira made statements and, together with Mr. Cohen, Mr. Bissett, Mr. Wong and Mr. Mehta, answered questions.
At 5:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 28, 2008
(31)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:13 p.m., in room 160-S, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean Dupuis, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, the committee began its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (A), laid before Parliament for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
WITNESSES:
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Alister Smith, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector;
Brian Pagan, Executive Director, Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Smith made a statement and, together with Mr. Pagan, answered questions.
At 8:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 29, 2008
(32)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:05 a.m., in room 160-S, Center Block, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (9).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean Dupuis, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2008, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 13.)
WITNESSES:
Department of Finance Canada:
Gérald Lalonde, Director, Tax Legislation Divison, Tax Policy Branch;
Lawrence Purdy, Senior Chief, Tax Legislation Division, Tax Policy Branch;
Carlos Achadinha, Chief, Sales Tax Division, Alcohol, Tobacco and Excise Legislation, Tax Policy Branch;
Pierre Mercille, Chief, Sales Tax Division, GST Legislation, Tax Policy Branch;
Krista Campbell, Senior Chief, Federal-Provincial Relations Division, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch;
Elisha Ram, Chief, Microeconomic Policy Analysis, Industry and Knowledge Economy Section, Economic Development and Corporate Finance;
Yves Giroux, Director, Social Policy, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch;
Jeremy Rudin, General Director, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Economic Development and Corporate Finance;
Ross Firla, Economist, Resources, Energy and Environment.
Natural Resources Canada:
Robert Lomas, Special Advisor to the Director General, Minerals, Metals and Materials Policy Branch.
Human Resources and Social Development Canada:
Rosaline Frith, Director General, Canada Student Loans Program;
Louis Beauséjour, Director General, Employment Insurance Policy;
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
Joan Arnold, Senior Director, Insurance Benefits Program Group.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Lalonde, Mr. Achadinha, Mr. Mercille and Ms. Frith made statements and, together with Mr. Purdy, answered questions.
At 10:35 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:40 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Beauséjour, Ms. Campbell, Mr. Ram, Mr. Firla, Mr. Giroux, Mr. Rudin, Ms. Arnold and Mr. Lomas made statements and, together with Mr. Lalonde and Ms. Firth, answered questions.
At noon, the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 29, 2008
(31)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 1 p.m., in room 160-S, Center Block, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (9).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier and Jean Dupuis, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 15, 2008, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget. (For complete text of order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 13.)
WITNESSES:
Conseil national des chômeurs et chômeuses:
Pierre Céré, Spokesperson.
Canadian Institute of Actuaries:
Michel Bédard, Member, Task Force on Financing of Employment Insurance.
Canadian Council of Chief Executives:
David Stewart-Patterson, Executive Vice-President.
Canadian Federation of Independent Business:
Garth Whyte, Vice-President.
United Steelworkers — USW:
Erin Weir, Economist.
Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association:
Joyce Reynolds, Executive Vice-President.
Canadian Federation of Students:
Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson.
Gairdner Foundation:
John Dirks, President.
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations:
Zach Churchill, National Director;
Lisa Fry, Policy and Research Officer.
University of British Columbia:
Ron Giammarino, Professor.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Céré, Mr. Bédard, Mr. Stewart-Patterson, Mr. Whyte, Mr. Weir and Ms. Reynolds made statements and answered questions.
At 2:40 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:50 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Dirks, Ms. Aziz, Mr. Churchill, Ms. Fry and Mr. Giammarino made statements and answered questions.
At 4:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière and Shaila Anwar
Acting Clerks of the Committee