Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 16 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 25, 2012

OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 25, 2012
(39)

[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 Buth, Callbeck, Day, Gerstein, Marshall, Nancy Ruth, Neufeld, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (10).

In attendance: Édison Roy-César and Terrance Thomas, 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.)

WITNESS:

Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada:

David C. Adams, President.

Mr. Adams made a statement and answered questions.

The Honourable Senator Ringuette moved:

That General Motors Canada, Ford Canada and Chrysler Canada be summoned to appear before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance before the committee concludes the witnesses pertaining to the study on price differences between Canada and the United States.

After debate, the Honourable Senator Ringuette withdrew the motion. It was agreed that due diligence be conducted to determine whether the reason for refusal to appear relates to a class action that in itself relates to pricing, and that the chair and deputy chair report back their findings to the committee.

At 7:52 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jodi Turner

Clerk of the Committee