Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 21 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 16, 2010
(54)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9:30 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Irving Gerstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Dickson, Gerstein, Marshall, Neufeld, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (8).
In attendance: John Bulmer 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 Thursday, November 4, 2010, the committee began its consideration of the subject-matter of Bill C-47, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 4, 2010 and other measures.
WITNESSES:
Department of Finance Canada:
Gérard Lalonde, Director, Tax Legislation Division, Tax Policy Branch;
Tim Wach, Director, Legislative Development and Chief Legislative Counsel, Tax Policy Branch;
Carlos Achadinha, Legislative Chief, Sales Tax Division, Public Sector Bodies;
Pierre Mercille, Senior Legislative Chief, GST Legislation, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch;
Kei Moray, Director, Intergovernmental Tax Policy, Evaluation and Research Division, Tax Policy Branch;
Deanne Field, Chief, Federal-Provincial Taxation Section, Tax Policy Branch;
Robert Turnbull, Senior Counsel;
Pascale Dugré-Sasseville, Chief, Consumer Issues, Financial Sector Policy Branch;
John Layton, Chief, Trade in Services and Investment, International Trade and Finance Branch;
Tom McGirr, Chief, Equalization and Policy Development, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch;
Lynn Hemmings, Senior Chief, Payments, Financial Sector Policy Branch.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:
Jessica Kerr, Director, Programs Division;
Guy Morrissette, Manager, Canada Disability Savings Program.
Canada Border Services Agency:
Sara Wiebe, Director General, Pre-Border Programs.
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada:
John W. Grace, Specialist, Pension Policy, Private Pension Plans Division.
The chair made an opening statement.
Messrs. Lalonde, Wach, Achadinha and Mercille each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
At 10:28 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:31 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mmes. Moray and Dugré-Sasseville each made a statement and, together with Ms. Field and Mr. Turnbull, answered questions.
At 10:53 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:55 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mmes. Kerr and Wiebe each made a statement and, together with Messrs. Morrissette and Layton, answered question.
At 11:23 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:25 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. McGirr and Ms. Hemmings each made a statement and, together with Mr. Grace, answered questions.
At 11:35 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 17, 2010
(55)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, in camera, at 6:45 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Irving Gerstein, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Eaton, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Marshall, Martin, Neufeld, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (10).
In attendance: Maxime-Olivier Thibodeau and Sylvain Fleury, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; Francine Pressault, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, the committee continued its examination of the costs and benefits of Canada's one-cent coin to Canadian taxpayers and the overall Canadian economy. (For complete text of the 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 permitted to remain in the room for the meeting.
It was agreed, on division, that the draft report be adopted, as amended, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to make editorial revisions.
At 7:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee