Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 16 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 3, 2009
(36)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9:30 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Day, Di Nino, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Mitchell, Neufeld and Ringuette (8).
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Murray, P.C. (1).
In attendance: Jean-François Nadeau and Sylvain Fleury, 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 Tuesday, March 3, 2009, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)
WITNESSES:
Infrastructure Canada:
John Forster, Associate Deputy Minister;
Taki Sarantakis, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Priorities Directorate;
Bryce Conrad, Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch.
Library of Parliament:
Kevin Page, Parliamentary Budget Officer;
Mostafa Askari, Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer, Economic and Fiscal Analysis;
Sahir Khan, Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer, Expenditure and Revenue Analysis;
Chris Matier, Senior Adviser, Economic and Fiscal Analysis.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Forster made a statement and, together with Mr. Sarantakis and Mr. Conrad, answered questions.
At 10:41 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:43 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Page made a statement and, together with Messrs. Askari, Khan and Matier, answered questions.
At 11:47 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
(37)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 7:08 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Carignan, Day, Di Nino, Dickson, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Mitchell, Neufeld and Ringuette (10).
In attendance: Jean-François Nadeau and Sylvain Fleury, 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 Tuesday, March 3, 2009, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 2.)
WITNESS:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development:
Edward Whitehouse, Head of Pension Policy Analysis, Social Policy Division.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Whitehouse made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 5, 2009
(38)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Carignan, Day, Di Nino, Dickson, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Neufeld and Ringuette (9).
In attendance: Jean-François Nadeau and Sylvain Fleury, 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 Wednesday, November 3, 2009, the committee began its examination of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits.
WITNESSES:
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:
Louis Beauséjour, Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch;
Carol McLean, Senior Counsel and Group Head, Legal Services, Skills and Employment and Learning Branch.
Service Canada:
Philip Clarke, Director General, Benefits Processing.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Beauséjour made a statement and, together with Ms. McLean and Mr. Clarke, answered questions.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to increase benefits.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1 carry.
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 3 carry.
It was agreed that clause 4 carry.
It was agreed that clause 5 carry.
It was agreed that clause 6 carry.
It was agreed that clause 7 carry.
It was agreed that clause 8 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed, on division, that the bill carry.
It was agreed, on division, that the chair report the bill without amendment or observation to the Senate.
At 9:36 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee