THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 11, 2026
(34)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 6:45 p.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Claude Carignan, P.C., presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Forest, Galvez, Gignac, Hébert, Loffreda, Marshall, Ross and Youance (10).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Pupatello (1).
Participating in the meeting: André Léonard and Michaël Lambert-Racine, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P, Minister of Transport.
WITNESSES:
Transport Canada:
Arun Thangaraj, Deputy Minister;
Luis Miguel Izquierdo Martin, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, High Speed Rail, Major Projects;
Nicholas Robinson, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security.
Ecojustice:
Muhannad Malas, Director of Law Reform (by videoconference);
Julia Croome, Director of Litigation Practice (by videoconference).
Quebec Environmental Law Centre:
Geneviève Paul, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference);
Charles Codère, Lawyer (by videoconference).
Canadian Civil Liberties Association:
Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, Director, Fundamental Freedoms Program (by videoconference).
The minister made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:52 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:56 p.m., the committee resumed.
Muhannad Malas, Geneviève Paul and Anaïs Bussières McNicoll each made a statement.
At 8:25 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Sara Gajic
Clerk of the Committee