THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 12, 2024
(113)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:02 p.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Claude Carignan, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C., Dalphond, Forest, Gignac, Kingston, LaBoucane-Benson, Loffreda, MacAdam, Marshall, Moncion, Pate, Ross, Smith and Tannas (14).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Oudar (1).
Participating in the meeting: Shaowei Pu and André Léonard, analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the committee began its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
WITNESSES:
Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer:
Yves Giroux, Parliamentary Budget Officer (by videoconference);
Kaitlyn Vanderwees, Analyst.
Yves Giroux made a statement and, together with Kaitlyn Vanderwees, answered questions.
At 7:17 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:25 p.m., the committee resumed.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-59.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
With leave and pursuant to rule 12-20(4), it was agreed that the committee group clauses according to the five parts of the Bill.
It was agreed that part 1 carry, on division.
It was agreed that part 2 carry, on division.
It was agreed that part 3 carry, on division.
It was agreed that part 4 carry, on division.
The chair asked whether part 5 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Ross moved that Bill C-59 be amended, in clause 236, on page 429, by replacing lines 20 and 21 with the following:
“proper substantiation, the proof of which lies”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators Marshall, Ross and Smith — [3]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators Forest, Gignac, Kingston, LaBoucane-Benson, Loffreda, MacAdam, Moncion and Pate — [8]
ABSTENTIONS
The Honourable Senators Carignan and Dalphond — [2]
It was agreed that part 5 carry, on division.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, carry on division.
It was agreed that the title carry, on division.
It was agreed that the bill carry, on division.
It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee's report.
After debate, it was agreed that the observation prepared and circulated by the Honourable Senator Dalphond, as modified, be appended to the report.
After debate, it was agreed that the observation prepared and circulated by the Honourable Senator Pate be appended to the report.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration the changes discussed in committee, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill C-59, without amendment and with observations, to the Senate, in both official languages.
At 8:09 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:17 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2024, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of all of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024.
It was agreed that each committee member be allowed to have one staff person present during the in camera portion of the meeting.
It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.
It was agreed that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, in both official languages.
At 9:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee