Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  Sorry, just to clarify, if the RRIF minimum rules are changed in the future, will it address our concerns? Is that the question?

Finance committee  Yes, I think probably this committee has heard submissions, if not this year, in prior years, about updating the RRIF minimum rules. It's a concern for RRSP holders and in respect to these rules. We have more general concerns, but if the RRIF minimum rules are updated, that will

Finance committee  There would be two proposals. One is to create a de minimis rule where if the surplus is less than a certain percentage of the actuarial liabilities, this rule does not apply. The federal government recently implemented a rule where they allow up to 25% of pension surplus to cove

Finance committee  We formed a working group and there were four members on it. They probably represent a large percentage of our members who are working in this area. I don't think there is a large number of IPPs in Canada. The members on the working group had 30 to 40 in place.

Finance committee  I would agree with the member that there are a number of tax benefits applicable to small-business owners that were put in place to encourage their growth, encourage employment in Canada through that growth, and assist them in transitioning their businesses into larger operations

Finance committee  If you consider it to be avoidance, why are you only applying it to groups of three or less that include owner-managers? If there is a concern, it should be extended to all taxpayers who are in similar circumstances.

Finance committee  When we did our review of the various programs that were being proposed, the target group that we thought needed to be benefited were employees of small businesses and the self-employed. Although the CPP proposal, or supplementary pension plan proposal--

Finance committee  The specific concern we had with that was the time it would take to integrate that to provide a benefit and the fact that it would put an additional cost on small-business owners and others at a time when it's a very difficult financial environment. We don't say not to do it, but

Finance committee  Thank you very much. The people who are being impacted by these rules are typically small-business owners. That's the inclusion of the rule. They work very hard to build their business. They're often reinvesting in the business, and at some point in time they're in a position to

Finance committee  We are supportive of a program that will expand the number of people who are participating in retirement programs. We made another submission on the retirement income sufficiency issue. It is clearly individuals employed by small businesses who don't have pension plans of any sor

Finance committee  Thanks, Susan. Mr. Chair and committee, thank you for inviting us tonight. I have to admit that as I reviewed the IPP proposals I was reminded of a point of discussion with my tax professor at law school. As I struggled to understand the application of a certain tax provision