THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 5, 2026
(45)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9 a.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., Dalphond, Forest, Galvez, Gignac, Hébert and Ross (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Pate and Pupatello (2).
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 Monday, March 9, 2026, the committee continued its examination of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, with the exception of Library of Parliament Vote 1.
WITNESSES:
Employment and Social Development Canada:
Serena Francis, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer;
Catherine Adam, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Canada;
Colette Kaminsky, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch;
Stephanie Kirkland, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Integrated Service Strategy and Operations Branch;
Brian Hickey, Assistant Deputy Minister, Benefits Delivery Modernization Implementation and Service Design Branch;
Jane Qin, Director General, Corporate Financial Planning and Deputy Chief Financial Officer;
Jonathan Wallace, Director General, Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, Learning Branch.
Parks Canada:
Andrew Campbell, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.
Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer:
Annette Ryan, Parliamentary Budget Officer.
Serena Francis and Andrew Campbell each made a statement and, together with Brian Campbell, Catherine Adam, Colette Kaminsky, Stephanie Kirkland, Jane Qin and Jonathan Wallace, answered questions.
At 10:04 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 10:09 a.m., the committee resumed.
Annette Ryan made a statement and answered questions.
At 11 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Sara Gajic
Clerk of the Committee