Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue 4 - Evidence
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, to which was referred Bill C-3, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011, met this day at 9:05 a.m. to give clause-by-clause consideration to the bill; and to consider, in camera, the expenditures set out in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012.
Senator Joseph A. Day (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: I call this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance to order.
Honourable senators, we have two items of business that we propose to deal with this morning. One is clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-3, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011. The other, is to consider, and hopefully pass and adopt, the report on the Main Estimates for 2011-12.
I would propose starting with the bill, which has precedent.
Is there agreement, honourable senators, that we proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-3, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: If we do not have unanimous consent I have to ask for someone to move the nomination, but in this instance I see there is consensus, so I do not have to ask for a motion.
With leave, is it agreed that the committee be allowed to group clauses by the 12 parts identified in the bill, when appropriate?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: I will be back to that later.
Shall clause 1, which contains a short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
We will start with the 12 parts, honourable senators.
Shall Part 1, entitled "Amendments to the Income Tax Act, a Related Act and a Related Regulation," containing clauses 2 to 8, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 2, entitled "Measures Relating to Excise Duties and Sales and Excise Taxes," containing clauses 9 to 12, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Honourable senators, shall Part 3, entitled "Old Age Security Act," containing clauses 13 and 14, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 4 entitled "Payments," containing clauses 15 and 16, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 5, entitled "Auditor General Act," containing clause 17, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: It deals with the mandatory retirement age, as I recall. Carried.
Shall Part 6, entitled "Canada Student Financial Assistance Act," containing clauses 18 and 19, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Honourable senators, shall Part 7, entitled "Mortgage or Hypothecary Insurance," containing clauses 20 to 26, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 8, entitled "Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act," containing clauses 27 to 29, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 9, entitled "Insurance Companies Act," containing clauses 30 and 31, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: That is demutualization. Carried.
Shall Part 10, entitled "Assessment of Financial Institutions Regulations, 2001," containing clauses 32 and 33, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 11, entitled "Financial Administration Act," containing clauses 34 to 36 inclusive, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall Part 12, entitled "Canada Shipping Act, 2001," containing clauses 37 to 45, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the bill carry without amendment?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Are there any observations that anyone feels she or he would like to see attached to this particular bill and the work we have done on it?
Seeing none, shall I report the bill to the Senate, at the earliest opportunity, without amendment and without observations?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: It is agreed.
Honourable senators, that concludes our work with respect to Bill C-3. I thank you very much for your diligence and understanding in getting it through quickly and working for four hours last evening to do so. It went very well.
May I have a motion to move in camera?
Senator Gerstein: I so move.
The Chair: All those in favour? Contrary minded, if any? The motion is carried.
(The committee continued in camera.)