THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, COMMERCE AND THE ECONOMY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, April 30, 2026
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy met this day at 10:33 a.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Clément Gignac, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Deacon (Nova Scotia), Fridhandler, Gignac, Henkel, Loffreda, Ringuette, Saint-Germain and Varone (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Al Zaibak (1).
Participating in the meeting: Adriane Yong and Brett Howard, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 20, 2025, the committee continued its study on access to credit and capital markets for small- and medium-sized enterprises as the basis for growth and improved productivity in the Canadian economy.
WITNESSES:
Council of Canadian Innovators:
Jim Balsillie, Co-Founder and Chair.
National Angel Capital Organization:
Claudio Rojas, Chief Executive Officer.
Canadian Bankers Association:
Anthony Ostler, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Darren Hannah, Senior Vice President, Financial Stability & Banking Policy.
Jim Balsillie and Claudio Rojas each made a statement and answered questions.
At 11:33 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11:38 a.m., the committee resumed.
Anthony Ostler made a statement and, together with Darren Hannah, answered questions.
At 12:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Matthieu Boulianne
Clerk of the Committee