Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 6 - Minutes of Proceedings - October 26, 2011

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 26, 2011
(13)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 6:45 p.m., in room 9 Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Day, Dickson, Eggleton, P.C., Finley, Gerstein, Marshall, Nancy Ruth, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (10).

In attendance: Édison Roy-César 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, October 6, 2011, the committee continued its study on the potential reasons for price discrepancies in respect of certain goods between Canada and the United States, given the value of the Canadian dollar and the effect of cross border shopping on the Canadian economy. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 5.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Ken Wong, Queen's University;

Avi Goldfarb, University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management.

Canada Border Services Agency:

Brent Patten, Director, Commercial Border Programs Division;

Wayne Tallack, Manager, Port of Entry Operation Division;

Lily Ooi, Director, Trusted Travellers Programs Division.

At 6:46 p.m., Mr. Wong and Mr. Goldfarb each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:50 p.m., Mr. Patten, Mr. Tallack and Ms. Ooi each made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jodi Turner

Clerk of the Committee