Evidence of meeting #49 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Yes, but those answers didn't require amendments to the bill, then.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
We're saying here today, and you're saying, I believe, as is Mr. McKay, that this bill should only apply to first responders and emergency workers.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
We're saying that is the intent. Are you telling me that with all the resources—
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I'm telling you as the mover of the motion that if that's what you want, you should bring amendments.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
—address your question through the chair. But I'm not going to allow you to go on very much longer. I'll give you another 30 seconds to wrap up and that will be it.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Do you not feel as the mover of the motion that if that is your intent, this committee deserves to see amendments to make that happen? And there were amendments recommended by other witnesses at the one meeting we've had on this other than today, so should we not be able to review those amendments and see whether they make appropriate sense to be included in this bill?
This bill doesn't have any amendments to it. It doesn't apply to what you're claiming it does.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay, we'll take a very quick answer on that, and then we'll go to clause-by-clause.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The legal drafters of the legislation have certainly made it clear to us that the amendment is not necessary. I think it's been very clear at this committee that this bill is intended to apply to first responders and emergency workers. That's been outlined. I feel quite certain that with the resources that the Department of Finance and CRA have available to them, they can ensure that this is how it's interpreted.
Let's not delay the bill for amendments that are not necessary. Let's get the job done.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I would like to move a motion, and then we can go to line by line if my motion loses. It's to the bill.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I would move that the committee, while generally supportive of the intent of Bill C-219, and it feels that those who provide volunteer emergency services should be recognized by the federal government through the tax system, has considered Bill C-219, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency service), and pursuant to Standing Order 97(1) agrees on Thursday, June 12, 2008, to recommend to the House of Commons not to proceed further with the bill, as there are unresolved questions similar to those raised in the 19th report of the finance committee in 2005 on Bill C-273.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative