THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 5, 2023
(86)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:03 a.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais, Forest, Gignac, Loffreda, MacAdam, Marshall, Mockler, Pate and Smith (9).

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, November 21, 2023, the committee continued its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

WITNESSES:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation:

Romy Bowers, President and Chief Executive Officer;

André Charbonneau, Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

Correctional Service Canada:

Tony Matson, Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services;

France Gratton, Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs;

Jay Pyke, Acting Senior Deputy Commissioner.

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Karen Robertson, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister;

Brian Leonard, Director General and Deputy Chief Financial Officer;

Karen Hall, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch;

Susan Ingram, Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Strategy and Design, Benefits Delivery Modernization;

Colette Kaminsky, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch;

Michael MacPhee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program Branch, Service Canada;

Chantal Marin-Comeau, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch;

Elisha Ram, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch;

Catherine Demers, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch (by videoconference);

Christine McDowell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizen Service Branch (by videoconference).

Romy Bowers, Tony Matson and Karen Robertson each made a statement and, together with Susan Ingram, Michael MacPhee, Brian Leonard, Jay Pike, Michael MacPhee, Elisha Ram and Christine McDowell, answered questions.

At 10:42 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:44 a.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 8, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-241, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of travel expenses for tradespersons).

At 10:45 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:46 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.

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, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill C-241, without amendment and with observations to the Senate, at the earliest opportunity, on division.

At 10:57 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé

Clerk of the Committee