THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, COMMERCE AND THE ECONOMY

EVIDENCE

OTTAWA, Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy met with videoconference this day at 4:14 p.m. [ET] for the election of the Deputy Chair; and, in camera, for the consideration of a draft agenda (future business).

Senator Pamela Wallin (Chair) in the chair.

[English]

The Chair: Hello, everyone. Welcome to this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy. My name is Pamela Wallin, and I’m the chair of this committee. I would like to introduce our other members here today: Senator Bellemare, Senator C. Deacon, Senator Gignac, Senator Marshall, Senator Miville-Dechêne, Senator Petten, Senator Ringuette and Senator Yussuff. Others may join us.

We also have a surprise guest, Senator Loffreda. Now that we have gone through that, our first order of business — that might have been a hint — is the election of a deputy chair.

Senator Yussuff, are there any nominations?

Senator Yussuff: With pleasure, it is my honour to nominate Tony Loffreda, our colleague from Quebec.

The Chair: Thank you, Senator Yussuff. We do not really need a seconder, but Senator Deacon has asked to do so.

Senator C. Deacon: I have the honour of seconding that nomination wholeheartedly.

The Chair: That is great. For those of you watching, Senator Loffreda is replacing Senator Deacon. It’s nice to see the friendly handover. It’s wonderful.

We are going to have a vote. It is moved that the Honourable Senator Loffreda — who is indeed here — be deputy chair of this committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

The Chair: Agreed. Welcome.

Welcome also to Senator Marshall, who is joining our steering committee. They are both joining Senator Bellemare and myself as members of the steering committee.

We are going to have a very good committee with strong leadership. I am pleased to welcome both of you.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

The Chair: We will suspend to continue our meeting in camera in order to discuss the future business of the committee.

(The committee continued in camera.)