Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 26 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 4, 2015

OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 4, 2015
(77)

[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 Boisvenu, Chaput, Day, Maltais, Rivard, Smith (Saurel) and Wallace (7).

In attendance: Sylvain Fleury and Raphaëlle Deraspe, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, the committee continued its examination of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 8.)

WITNESSES:

Marine Atlantic Inc.:

Paul Griffin, President and CEO;

Shawn Leamon, Chief Financial Officer.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency:

Denise Frenette, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Corporate Services;

Stéphane Lagacé, Director General and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Administration.

Public Works and Government Services Canada:

Robert Wright, Regional Director General, Atlantic Region;

Joan MacKinnon, Regional Director, Cape Breton Operations, Atlantic Region;

Ryan Pilgrim, Director General, Budget and Cost Management, Finance and Administration Branch.

Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec:

Marc Lemieux, Executive Director, Corporate Services;

Jack Noodelman, Acting Director General, Departmental Finances Branch.

Western Economic Diversification Canada:

Jim Saunderson, Assistant Deputy Minister - Alberta Region;

Francesco Del Bianco, Director General, Strategic Services and Advocacy.

Ms. Frenette, Mr. Wright, Mr. Griffin and Mr. Leamon made statements and, together with Mr. Lagacé, Mr. Pilgrim and Ms. MacKinnon, answered questions.

At 7:54 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:57 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Lemieux and Mr. Saunderson made statements and, together with Mr. Noodelman and Mr. Del Bianco, answered questions.

At 8:44 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Kevin Pittman

Clerk of the Committee