Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 14 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 3, 2008
(32)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:38 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette, Stratton and Tardif (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 rule 92(2)(f), the committee commenced in camera to consider the draft report on the Supplementary Estimates ``A,'' 2008-2009.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portion of this meeting.
It was agreed that the committee adopt the report, as amended, and that the chair be authorized to present it to the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee considered a draft agenda.
At 10:05 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:13 a.m., the committee resumed in public.
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:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Andrea Lyon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy;
Les Linklater, Director General, Immigration Branch.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Lyon made a statement and, together with Mr. Linklater, answered questions.
At 12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 3, 2008
(33)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 2:40 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (7).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Tkachuk (1).
In attendance: Jean Dupuis, Analyst, 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:
Building and Construction Trades Department (A.F.L. — C.I.O.):
Robert Blakely, Director;
Christopher Smillie, Policy Analyst, Government and Regulatory Affairs.
The chair made an opening statement.
Mr. Blakely made a statement and, with Mr. Smillie, answered questions.
At 4:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 4, 2008
(34)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met in camera this day at 1:15 p.m., in room 172-E, Centre Block, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Day, Di Nino, Ringuette and Stratton (4).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier Analyst, 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 on 2008-2009 Estimates.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during this meeting.
It was agreed that the committee adopt the report and that the chair be authorized to present it to the Senate.
At 1:19 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gérald Lafrenière
Acting Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 10, 2008
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:33 a.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Chaput, Day, Di Nino, Murray, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Ringuette and Stratton (8).
In attendance: Guy Beaumier Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
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:
Krista Campbell, Senior Chief, Federal-Provincial Relations Division, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch.
Public Safety Canada:
Mark Potter, Director General, Policing Policy.
Canadian Bar Association:
Betsy Kane, Executive Member, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section;
Kerri Froc, Legal Policy Analyst.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Froc, Ms. Kane and Ms. Campbell each made a statement and, together with Mr. Potter, answered questions.
At 10:47 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:49 a.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 28, 2008, the committee resumed in camera to continue 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 the in camera portion of this meeting.
After debate, it was moved:
That the draft report be adopted as the report of the committee on Infrastructure programs and regional development agencies; and
That the Subcommittee on agenda and procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required and that the chair be authorized to present it to the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 11:32 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 11, 2008
(36)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 2:18 p.m., in room 505, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chaput, Cowan, Day, Di Nino, Massicotte, 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.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, the committee began its examination 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.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Di Nino:
That the evidence heard on the committee's order of reference concerning 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 be referred to the committee for the purposes of their examination of Bill C-50.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration 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.
With leave, it was agreed to group the clauses by the parts in the bill.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, containing the short title, stand postponed.
It was agreed that clauses 2 to 48 (part 1) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 49 to 71 (part 2) carry.
It was agreed that clauses 72 to 93 (part 3) carry.
It was agreed that clauses 94 to 100 (part 4) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 101 to 115 (part 5) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 116 to 120 (part 6) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 121 to 135 (part 7) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clauses 136 to 141 (part 8) carry.
It was agreed that clauses 142 to 145 (part 9) carry.
It was agreed that clauses 146 to 164 (part 10) carry, on division.
It was agreed that clause 1, containing the short title carry.
It was agreed that the preamble carry, on division.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, on division.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Ringuette:
That the committee consider appending observations to their report.
After debate, it was agreed, on division, that the chair report the bill without amendment but with observations to the Senate.
At 2:44 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Lynn Gordon
Clerk of the Committee