Evidence of meeting #62 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amount.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Will this make the government go and check out the teams more?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
No, I hope not. I would hope this would free it up, because it's about the only thing they could audit.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
Essentially, this eliminates the need for the team to do source deductions on CPP and EI for the chunk of change they pay these guys for room and board.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
For the $60,000 and whatever those source deductions add up to, it's saving them that much in fundraising exercises.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
It's $5,000 to $6,000 a year, which is a lot of money.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
All right. Are there any further comments?
Mr. Dykstra, do you want to add to this?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Thank you. I only have a couple of little questions, Mr. Chair.
Through you to Brian, on the $350 to $300, it seems to be an arbitrary figure to move down from $350 to $300. What are your thoughts on that?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
I guess I'm a fiscal conservative, and sometimes it's what spills over the edge of the pot that ends up creating the deficits with management. The department is perhaps concerned about keeping a lid on unintended consequences.
I'm inclined to err on the side of caution and put some restraint on it, for fear that there is somebody out there who can find a loophole on this thing and exploit it. I don't know what the loophole would be, but even at $300 a month, I think most of the teams would be fairly happy to get that kind of relief.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
The other question I have is around this issue of registration. In the way I read the amendment, it would suggest that you almost have to register or be registered on a monthly basis. Am I to assume that's the case? Do you register at the beginning of the hockey season or sport season and you remain registered until you acknowledge you're not registered anymore?
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
I think the teams have limited amounts of money to be spending on room and board. If a player is no longer a player, I don't really see why these non-profit organizations would be shelling out money to somebody.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
Thanks, Brian.
It's clear on the notes, at least. It says “or participates”, Rick, so I don't think the monthly registration would be important. It does say “or participates in”.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Fitzpatrick Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Coaches and trainers and people like that are not eligible. It's clearly in the amendment.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Diane Ablonczy Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
One of the concerns about the bill is what I like to call the law of unintended consequences, where it looks very simple upfront, but then, as I think one of the questioners opposite mentioned, other people rush through that door in a way that hadn't been intended.
I'd be interested in legal counsel and maybe Brian commenting on whether, in their view, this amendment would sufficiently narrow the focus of the bill so that we won't have any surprises down the road with a flock of other people coming to take advantage of the provisions.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
I think we dealt with that question earlier with previous witnesses, and I don't know how scientific an answer we're going to get from legislative counsel on a question like that. If there isn't any further discussion, I'm going to move to--
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Diane Ablonczy Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Chairman, could the counsel not express an opinion on that?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
I'm not sure of the validity of that opinion, in any case. It calls for speculation on what swim clubs across Canada are going to take advantage of this legislation.
Let's move to clause-by-clause. We're dealing with the amendment now.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, I have a point of order.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
There are two members who have asked for an opinion from legal counsel. Whether we take that opinion into consideration or not, you've asked us to give you amendments on clause-by-clause in less than an hour. I think to hear legal counsel's opinion is valid and appropriate at this moment in time.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister
That's quite true.
I'll tell you what. Are you interested in talking about what swim clubs and football teams might--
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
You don't have to tell him what to say, but he can just express an opinion.