Finance Committee on June 5th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #70 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Gordon Boissonneault Senior Advisor, Economic Analysis and Forecasting Division, Demand and Labour Analysis, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Department of Finance
- Sue Foster Acting Director General, Policy, Appeals and Quality, Service Canada
- Margaret Strysio Director, Strategic Planning and Reporting, Parks Canada Agency
- Stephen Bolton Director, Border Law Enforcement Strategies Division, Public Safety Canada
- Michael Zigayer Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
- Garry Jay Chief Superintendent, Acting Director General, HR Workforce Programs and Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Jeff Hutcheson Director, HQ Programs and Financial Advisory Services, Coporate Management and Comptrollership, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Darryl Hirsch Senior Policy Analyst, Intelligence Policy and Coordination, Department of Public Safety
- Ian Wright Executive Advisor, Financial Markets Division, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
- Nigel Harrison Manager, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- David Lee Director, Office of Legislative and Regulatory Modernization, Policy, Planning and International Affairs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
- Anthony Giles Director General, Strategic Policy, Analysis and Workplace Information Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
- Bruno Rodrigue Chief, Income Security, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch, Department of Finance
- Gerard Peets Senior Director, Strategy and Planning Directorate, Department of Industry
- Suzanne Brisebois Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
- Louise Laflamme Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport
- Judith Buchanan Acting Senior Manager, Labour Standards Operations, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
- Mark Hodgson Senior Policy Analyst, Labour Markets, Employment and Learning, Department of Finance
- Stephen Johnson Director General, Evaluation Directorate, Strategic Policy and Research Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
- James McNamee Deputy Director, Horizontal Immigration Policy Division, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Graham Barr Director General, Transition Planning and Coordination, Shared Services Canada
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash Parkdale—High Park, ON
I just wanted to make the point, responding through you, Mr. Chair, to Ms. Glover, that what's not ridiculous is that this issue and this topic should be studied by the appropriate committee, with the appropriate members of Parliament and the appropriate witnesses, and should not be studied through the finance committee. I don't think that's at all ridiculous. I think it's the way a normal government would operate.
I just wanted to get that on the record.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair James Rajotte
Thank you.
(Clauses 368 to 374 inclusive agreed to on division)
I want to thank our officials for being here.
Colleagues, we've been going for over two hours. As your chair, I'm going to call a five-minute health break and suspend for a few minutes.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair James Rajotte
I call the meeting back to order.
We are at part 4, division 13, and clauses 375 to 376 on the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act. I don't have any amendments on this division.
Do any colleagues wish to speak to this? No? Okay.
(Clauses 375 and 376 agreed to)
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair James Rajotte
That is unanimous.
I shall then move to division 14 and amendments to the Canada Health Act. This is one clause. Are there colleagues who wish to speak to clause 377?
Ms. Nash.
5:40 p.m.
NDP
Peggy Nash Parkdale—High Park, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This clause would include a member of the RCMP as an insurable person under the provincial and territorial health programs. The RCMP would no longer be in the basic health care business but would continue providing supplemental health services, either directly or through a health insurance provider.
RCMP members currently enjoy better coverage than they would receive under the proposed changes. We see it as being a step backwards for the RCMP and we won't be supporting it.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Saint Boniface, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I disagree with the statement made by Ms. Nash. In fact, right now the RCMP pay taxes on a benefit that they're not even allowed to take advantage of.
If I could turn my attention to the witnesses, if you could explain what I just said so that members understand how it actually doesn't benefit them when they're not insurable because they're paying tax, it would be much appreciated.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
5:45 p.m.
Garry Jay Chief Superintendent, Acting Director General, HR Workforce Programs and Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The benefits actually are the same as they would be in the province. What we're asking for, or what has been asked for in the amendment, would result in the same basic benefits being provided.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Saint Boniface, MB
And the tax they pay on the provincial premiums...? Right now, they're not eligible for benefit. If Mr. Hutcheson wants to explain that...?
June 5th, 2012 / 5:45 p.m.
Jeff Hutcheson Director, HQ Programs and Financial Advisory Services, Coporate Management and Comptrollership, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Yes. Currently the RCMP members pay the same taxes that any resident in the province would pay, and would continue to do so with this proposed amendment.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
5:45 p.m.
Director, HQ Programs and Financial Advisory Services, Coporate Management and Comptrollership, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Yes, that's correct.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative