Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue 9 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 30, 2011

OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 30, 2011
(20)

[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 Callbeck, Day, Gerstein, Marshall, Nancy Ruth, Peterson, Plett, Ringuette, Rivard, Runciman and Stratton (11).

In attendance: Édison Roy-César and Sylvain Fleury, 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, November 24, 2011, the committee continued 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.

WITNESSES:

Department of Finance Canada:

Maxime Beaupré, Senior Economist, Transport and Corporate Analysis;

Roger Charland, Senior Chief, Securities Regulation, Intergovernmental Issues and Enforcement;

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

Bruno Rodrigue, Chief, Income Security;

Martin Marcone, Legal Counsel, General Legal Services;

Pierre Mercille, Senior Legislative Chief, Sales Tax Division.

Infrastructure Canada:

Sebastian Badour, Principal Advisor, Policy and Priorities Directorate.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:

Lenore Duff, Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform;

Mary Pichette, Director General, Canada Pension Plan Disability Directorate;

Irwin Bess, Acting Senior Director, Policy Analysis and Initiatives.

Privy Council Office:

Patrick Hill, Assistant Director, Legal Operations;

Matthew Lynch, Director, Democratic Reform;

Frédéric St-Martin, Policy Advisor, Democratic Reform.

Department of Justice Canada:

Judith Bellis, General Counsel and Director, Judicial Affairs, Courts and Tribunal Policy;

Catherine McKinnon, Senior Counsel, Judicial Affairs, Courts and Tribunal Policy.

Canada Revenue Agency:

Ray Cuthbert, Director, Legislative Policy Directorate.

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:

Mary Anne Stevens, Director, Policy and Legislation (Values and Ethics);

Joan Arnold, Senior Director, Legislation, Authorities and Litigation Management;

Mariane Small, Senior Advisor, Pensions Legislation Department.

Veterans Affairs Canada:

Janice Burke, Acting Director, Program Policy Directorate;

Louise Hayes, Senior Policy Advisor, Cabinet and Legislative Affairs.

Transport Canada:

Kash Ram, Director General, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation;

Kim Benjamin, Director, Road Safety Programs;

Eric Cragg, Senior Road Safety Policy Advisor, Road Safety Programs;

Linda Wilson, Counsel, Legal Services.

At 6:46 p.m., Mr. Beaupré and Mr. Badour each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:50 p.m., Mr. Charland made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:59 p.m., Mr. Duff and Mr. Hodgson each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:07 p.m., Mr. Duff, Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Hill each made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:20 p.m., Ms. Bellis made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:40 p.m., Mr. Marcone made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:45 p.m., Mr. Cuthbert made a statement and, together with Ms. Pichette and Mr. Rodrigue, answered questions.

At 7:52 p.m., Ms. Stevens made a statement and answered questions.

At 7:58 p.m., Ms. Burke made a statement and, together with Ms. Hayes and Mr. Rodrigue, answered questions.

At 8:04 p.m., Mr. Lynch made a statement and, together with Mr. St-Martin, answered questions.

At 8:06 p.m., Ms. Arnold made a statement and, together with Ms. Small, answered questions.

At 8:11 p.m., Mr. Ram made a statement and, together with Ms. Benjamin, Mr. Cragg and Ms. Wilson, answered questions.

At 8:18 p.m., Mr. Mercille made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:24 p.m., Ms. Bess made a statement and, together with Mr. Hodgson, answered questions.

At 8:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Jodi Turner

Clerk of the Committee