Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance
Issue No. 86 - Minutes of Proceedings - December 7, 2018
OTTAWA, Friday, December 7, 2018
(202)
[Translation]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day, at 9 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Dagenais, Dean, Eaton, Forest, Klyne, Lankin, P.C., Mockler, Moncion, Oh and Pratte (11).
In attendance: Alex Smith and Shaowei Pu, 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 Tuesday, December 4, 2018, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-86, A Second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 83.)
The chair made a statement.
At 9:07 a.m., it was agreed to proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-86.
It was agreed that the adoption of the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the adoption of clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
With leave of the committee members and pursuant to rule 12-20(3), it was agreed that the other clauses be grouped according to the parts and clauses described in the table of provisions of the bill.
It was agreed that Part 1, which contains clauses 2 to 40, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 2, which contains clauses 41 to 60, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 3, which contains clauses 61 to 68, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 1, which contains clauses 69 to 126, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 2, which contains clauses 127 to 129, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 3, which contains clauses 130 to 173, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 4, which contains clauses 174 and 175, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 5, which contains clauses 176 to 181, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 6, which contains clauses 182 to 186, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 7, which contains clauses 187 à 302, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 8, which contains clauses 303 to 313, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 9, which contains clause 314, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 10, which contains clauses 315 to 351, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 11, which contains clauses 352 to 384, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 12, which contains clauses 385 to 414, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 13, which contains clause 415, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 14, which contains clauses 416 to 440, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 15, which contains clauses 441 to 625, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 16, which contains clauses 626 to 653, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 17, which contains clauses 654 to 660, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 18, which contains clauses 661 to 674, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 19, which contains clauses 675 to 685, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 20, which contains clause 686, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 21, which contains clause 687, carry, on division.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 22, which contains clauses 688 to 712, carry.
It was agreed that Part 4, Division 23, which contains clauses 713 to 747, carry.
It was agreed that schedule 1 carry.
It was agreed that schedule 2 carry.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, on division.
The chair asked whether the committee wished to append observations to the report.
At 9:27 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:29 a.m., the committee resumed.
The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved that the following preliminary observations be added to the report:
Pay Equity Act
Considering the concerns expressed by a certain number of witnesses, your committee calls for the Senate to initiate a parliamentary review in six years' time and suggests the following areas be examined:
(i) the impact of including the phrase "while taking into account the diverse needs of employers'' in the Purpose section of the act, and setting the bar at making "all reasonable efforts'' to establish pay equity committees;
(ii) the impact of allowing pay equity committees access to all salary data within a workplace;
(iii) the impact of requiring unanimity amongst voting employees on pay equity committees, and the interpretation of the term "direction'' in practice, with regard to the relationship between employers / bargaining agents, and the members representing them on pay equity committees;
(iv) the possible discriminatory effects of excluding benefits from the determination of compensation due to temporary, casual or seasonal nature of work;
(v) the impact of grandfathering existing job class valuations of work without requiring the posting of the plan in the workplace and allowing for new comments from employees;
(vi) the impact of the restriction on retroactivity of adjustments;
(vii) the impact of not requiring the filing of pay equity plans with the pay equity commissioner; and
(viii) the use of the broad discretionary powers allowing for the Governor in Council to exempt any employer, employee, position or class from the application of this act.
After debate, it was agreed to amend the draft observations by replacing the word "Senate'' with the words "Government of Canada'', and by adding, after the words "six years,'' the words "at the latest''
It was agreed that the draft observations, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the chair report the bill, with observations, to the Senate.
At 9:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Maxime Fortin,
Acting Clerk of the Committee