And who do you lobby on behalf of?
Evidence of meeting #82 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #82 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
President, Rideau Institute
The Rideau Institute is an NGO unto itself, so we are not a charity, and we do advocacy work for ourselves. So I am an in-house lobbyist for the Rideau Institute. I'm also a consultant lobbyist for other organizations. We recently registered for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and the Nobel women's organization, which represents Nobel Peace Prize winners. It's mostly non-profit organizations and trade unions.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Okay, thank you.
Mr. Scholz, it's important to have a competitive tax system, and Canada is recognized around the world as having a very competitive tax system. That's why we're ranking number one out of G-8 countries in terms of economic performance. Our corporate tax rate is 15%. I'm really hoping you can help the people across the way here understand that an increase in taxes would lead to less investment and fewer jobs in our country. Could you please explain, as a spokesperson for your industry, what higher taxes would mean for investment and job growth and economic prosperity for Canada?
4:30 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors
Sure. Thanks, Mr. Adler, for the question.
Certainly, what I will say is that we have to look at this as an overall competitive equation here. Corporate taxes are important, along with personal taxes, royalties, and fuel taxes. All of these issues add up to an overall investment decision for capital. When the formula makes sense for an investor to put money towards developing an oil and gas well, we go to work. When the formula doesn't work out and they say, look, compared to other jurisdictions, maybe it's better to invest in Texas or Alaska.... There's a multitude of other jurisdictions where the capital is moving. Certainly, we want to be the jurisdiction that attracts that needed capital where we can put people to work.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors
I would say, from a competitiveness standpoint, it's a huge benefit for our industry, for representing tens of thousands of workers, that we go to work when investors see a competitive tax climate in the country.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Thank you.
Would you consider the oil sands to be a disease, as the NDP says it is?
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors
I do not consider the oil sands to be a disease. I see it as an opportunity for all Canadians. If we can do it in an environmentally and sustainable way, I think all Canadians, from coast to coast, can benefit from that tremendous resource.
In our industry alone, we do a lot of SAGD operations in the oil sands. In fact, we employ Canadians right across this country.
We were at a reception the other day where I was showing a picture of a rig crew. The derrickhand was from St. John's, Newfoundland, our motorhand was from Quebec, and our driller was from Alberta. I think it is just a statement that says the oil and gas industry is a tremendous opportunity for all Canadians and we all benefit from that.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Thank you. That's well said, and I hope my friends across the way have learned something today.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Thank you very much, Chair.
I have a question for you, Mr. Scholz. I'm going to ask a couple of the others the same question.
Knowing that you were going to be here today, do you remember if any one of your members...? How many members do you have?
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors
We have 45 drilling rig contractors and 76 services we're contracting out.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Did any one of those say to you, “Please, Mr. Scholz, when you appear before the finance committee of the House of Commons today, we want you to tell them that we are in favour of a $21 billion carbon tax that the NDP is proposing?” Did any one of those ask you to do that here today?
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Did any one of those ask you to advocate for a $21 billion carbon tax today, as contained within the NDP platform?
4:35 p.m.
Director, Investment Industry Association of Canada
There were no comments on that subject.
October 24th, 2012 / 4:35 p.m.
NDP
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to apologize to our guests here today. You come to this place expecting a level of debate that's commensurate with the work that you've put into it and you have to listen to the politicking from the other side. It's beyond belief.
Mr. Staples, as a lobbyist—because this point was raised, and it's a fair point to raise—quite often you're actually seeking better legislation and not necessarily seeking money. The implication was that lobbyists are all out there to gain money. Is that a fair view?
