Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 9 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 29, 2011

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 29, 2011
(19)

[English]

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

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Callbeck, Day, Eggleton, P.C., Gerstein, Lang, Marshall, Meighen, Nancy Ruth, Nolin, Peterson, Ringuette and Runciman (12).

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

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 24, 2011, the committee began its examination of Bill C-13, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011 and other measures.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Ted Menzies, P.C., M.P., Minister of State (Finance).

WITNESSES:

Department of Finance Canada:

Mark Hodgson, Senior Policy Analyst, Labour Markets, Employment and Learning;

Ted Cook, Senior Legislative Chief, Tax Legislation Division;

Gérard Lalonde, Director, Tax Legislation;

Patrick Halley, Chief, Tariffs and Market Access.

Canada Border Services Agency:

Steven Bell, Senior Program Advisor, Commercial Border Programs Division;

Wendy Guard, Manager, Postal and Courier LVS Programs Unit.

Canada Revenue Agency:

Ray Cuthbert, Director, Legislative Policy Directorate;

Blair Hammond, Manager, International Policy and Regulations Section.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada:

Colin Bird, Director, Softwood Lumber;

François Rivest, Director, Softwood Lumber Controls Division.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:

Mireille Laroche, Director General, Employment Insurance Policy;

Atiq Rahman, Director, Research and Knowledge Development;

David Swol, Director General, Canada Education Savings Program.

At 9:03 a.m., the Minister made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:33 a.m., Mr. Cook and Mr. Lalonde each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:35 a.m., Mr. Bird and Mr. Rivest each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:40 a.m., Mr. Halley made a statement and, together with Ms. Guard and Mr. Bell, answered questions.

At 11:04 a.m., Ms. Laroche, Mr. Cuthbert and Mr. Hodgson each made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:16 a.m., Mr. Swol made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:22 a.m., Mr. Hammond made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:35 a.m., Mr. Rahman and Mr. Hodgson each made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:50 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jodi Turner

Clerk of the Committee