Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 14 - Minutes of Proceedings - March 13, 2012

OTTAWA, Tuesday, March 13, 2012
(32)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9:28 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Joseph A. Day, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buth, Callbeck, Day, Finley, Gerstein, Hervieux- Payette, P.C., Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (11).

In attendance: Édison Roy-César and Sylvain Fleury, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament; and Brigitte Lemay, Communication Officer, Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 13.)

WITNESSES:

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:

Alfred Tsang, Chief Financial Officer;

Louis Beauséjour, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch;

Jacques Paquette, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch;

Paul Thompson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Processing and Payment Services Branch, Service Canada;

Ashique Biswas, Director General;

Cheryl Fisher, A/Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Canada;

Marc LeBrun, Director General, Canada Student Loans Program.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

Marc Joyal, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer;

Public Works and Government Services Canada:

Andrew Treusch, Associate Deputy Minister;

Alex Lakroni, Chief Financial Officer;

Shared Services Canada:

Maurice Chénier, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Projects & Client Relationships;

Gina Rallis, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services.

Natural Resources Canada:

Serge Dupont, Deputy Minister;

Bill Merklinger, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Managements and Services Sector.

Mr. Tsang made a statement and, together with Mr. Beauséjour, Mr. Paquette, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Joyal, Mr. Biswas, Ms. Fisher and Mr. Lebrun, answered questions.

At 10:37 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:41 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Treusch, Ms. Rallis and Mr. Dupont made a statement and, together with Mr. Lakroni, Mr. Chénier and Mr. Merklinger, answered questions.

At 11:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jodi Turner

Clerk of the Committee