Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue No. 20 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 29, 2016

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 29, 2016
(52)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:32 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Larry Smith, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Cools, Eaton, Marshall, Mitchell, Neufeld, Pratte and Smith (9).

In attendance: Alex Smith 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 Tuesday, November 15, 2016, the committee resumed its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2017. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 19.)

WITNESSES:

Global Affairs Canada:

Arun Thangaraj, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer;

Caroline Delany, Director, Planning and Deployment Division, Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOP);

Sean Boyd, Director, Middle East Development Division.

National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces:

Claude Rochette, Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance) and Chief Financial Officer;

André Fillion, Chief of Staff (Materiel);

Major-General John Madower, Chief of Programme.

Veterans Affairs Canada:

Maureen Sinnott, Director General, Finance;

Faith McIntyre, Director General, Policy and Research Division (by video conference);

Elizabeth Douglas, Director General, Service Delivery Program Management (by video conference).

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:

Colette Downie, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector;

Lawrence Hanson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Innovation Sector.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

Shaun Poulter, Executive Director, Public Affairs;

Michael Mooney, Executive Director, Corporate Finance and Administration.

Mr. Thangaraj, Mr. Rochette and Ms. Sinnott made statements and, together with Mr. Boyd, Ms. Delany, Mr. Fillion, Mr. Madower and Ms. McIntyre, answered questions.

At 10:49 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:53 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Downie and Mr. Poulter made statements and, together with Mr. Hanson, answered questions.

At 11:35 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:37 a.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, the committee resumed its study of the federal government's multi-billion dollar infrastructure funding program by reviewing a draft budget.

It was agreed that the following special study budget application on infrastructure for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2017, be approved, for submission to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

General expenses $ 18,000

TOTAL $ 18,000

At 11:46 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee