Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Banking, Trade and Commerce

Issue 24 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 17, 2003
(39)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 4:08 p.m., in room 505, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Richard H. Kroft, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Biron, Hervieux-Payette, P.C., Kelleher, P.C., Kroft, Massicotte, Moore, Oliver, Prud'homme, P.C. and Tkachuk (10).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Gustafson (1).

In attendance: From the Economic Division, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Ms. June Dewetering, Acting Principal Division and Mr. Yoine Goldstein, Counsel to the Committee.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, the committee continued its examination of the administration and operation of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

WITNESSES:

From the RESP Dealers Association of Canada:

Doreen G. Johnston, Chairman, Securities Regulation.

From Credit Counselling of Canada:

Pran Bahl, President;

Pierre R. Ouellette, Executive Director.

From the Consumers Association of Canada:

Mel Fruitman, President and CEO.

As a panel:

From the Canadian Labour Congress:

Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer;

Bob Baldwin, Director, Social and Economic Policy;

Murray Gold, Partner, Koskie Minsky.

From the United Steelworkers of America:

Lawrence McBrearty, National Director.

From CAW-Canada:

Lewis Gottheil, Counsel.

Mrs. Johnston made a statement and answered questions.

Mr. Bahl and Mr.Ouellette made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:00 p.m., the committee suspended its sitting.

At 5:10 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting in camera in order to discuss future business.

Senator Oliver moved, — That the committee agreed to the following budget for the period ending December 18, 2003, for its special study on the administration and operation of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

The question being put on the motion, — it was agreed.

At 5:30 p.m., the committee resumed its sitting in public.

Mr. Fruitman made a statement and answered questions.

Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Yussuff from the Canadian Labour Congress; Mr. McBrearty of the United Steelworkers of America and Mr. Gottheil from the CAW — Canada made statements and answered questions.

At 7:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, September 18, 2003
(40)

[English]

Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce met this day at 11:00 a.m., in room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Richard H. Kroft, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Biron, Kroft, Massicotte, Moore and Prud'homme, P.C. (5).

In attendance: From the Economic Division, Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament: Ms. June Dewetering, Acting Principal Division and Mr. Yoine Goldstein, Counsel to the Committee.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 29, 2002, the Committee continued its examination of the administration and operation of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

WITNESSES:

(By videoconference)

From the Alberta Law Reform Institute:

Professor C.R.B. (Dick) Dunlop, Special Counsel;

Peter J.M. Lown, Director.

Professor Janis Sarra, University of British Colombia.

Mr. Dunlop and Mr. Lown, from Edmonton by videoconference, made a statement and answered questions.

Professor Sarra, from Vancouver by videoconference, made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Denis Robert

Clerk of the Committee