Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Finance

Issue No. 31 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 3, 2017

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 3, 2017
(77)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:47 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Anne C. Cools presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Cools, Eaton, Forest, Marshall, Moncion, Pratte and Woo (8).

In attendance: Sylvain Fleury and Olivier Leblanc-Laurendeau, 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, February 23, 2016, the committee continued its study on the federal government's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure funding program. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 7.)

WITNESSES:

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer:

Jean-Denis Fréchette, Parliamentary Budget Officer;

Peter Weltman, Senior Director, Costing and Program Analysis; and

Jason Jacques, Director, Economic and Fiscal Analysis.

Fraser Institute:

Charles Lammam, Director, Fiscal Studies.

As an individual:

Ryan Gibson, Libro Professor of Regional Economic Development, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph.

The deputy chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Fréchette and Mr. Weltman each made an opening statement and, with Mr. Jacques, answered questions.

At 7:39 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:47 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Lammam and Mr. Gibson each made an opening statement and answered questions.

At 8:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Gaëtane Lemay

Clerk of the Committee