Finance Committee on June 19th, 2006

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Well, first of all, I too would appreciate having the opportunity to discuss the question of this particular tax treaty at our finance committee, because it's never been explained adequately to me why we moved to shut down a number of offshore tax centres and eliminated a number of tax treaties and not this particular one. So I think we should have some time on our agenda to do this.

If the concern is in fact with the middle part of the motion, I would suggest an amendment to delete everything after the first paragraph right through to “And that the committee report and make recommendations...”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Okay. Madam Wasylycia-Leis wishes to propose an amendment--

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Or even the paragraph before that; it doesn't really matter--so the committee could call witnesses. I'm wondering if that would be considered a friendly amendment on the part of the Bloc, and if so, since that seems to be the major obstacle....

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

You're suggesting retaining the first paragraph and the last, and deleting what's in the middle. Is that correct?

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Yes, although we could keep the second-to-last, which would simply say that the committee reserves the right to call witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Well, the committee has that right, of course.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Okay, then we don't need it. You're right. So the first and the last paragraphs.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

So the first and the last. All right.

Not seeing any desire for discussion, I'll ask if I can call the vote on the amendment.

Sorry, Mr. Dykstra.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'd just like a bit of clarification on the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

A bit of clarification?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Well, I understand that we're leaving in the first two bullets, but we're removing the--

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

No, the first and last paragraphs.

[An hon. member]

Could you read it, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

The motion is that the Standing Committee on Finance schedule televised sessions in the fall...and that the committee report and make recommendations to the House of Commons.

Now, for discussion on the amendment, Mr. McKay.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I would actually in general support that amendment, but I think the issue's not just the Canada-Barbados treaty, it is all of our international tax treaties. If you would entertain an amendment to that effect, then I think this would be an acceptable motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

We're discussing an amendment proposed by Madam Wasylycia-Leis at this moment. If there's further discussion on that, we'll continue.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I'd like to move an amendment to the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Are you moving an amendment on the amendment?

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Or are you asking for Madam Wasylycia-Leis' approval to make a friendly amendment?

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

You're not limiting it just to Canada-Barbados.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Not seeing a nod from Madam Wasylycia-Leis, then, you'll want to make an amendment to the amendment. I'm going to ask the help of the clerk at this point.

So what's the specific subamendment you're making, Mr. McKay?

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Well, the specific subamendment would be to delete “Canada-Barbados treaty” and just simply put “all tax treaties to which Canada is a signatory”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

To study all tax treaties to which Canada is a signatory.

Is there discussion on the subamendment?

Mr. Crête.

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to raise a point of order.

A subamendment has to amend an amendment. But here, a second amendment to the main motion is being proposed. Let's deal with the amendment first, because a subamendment could seek to restore the name of the former...