Evidence of meeting #72 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was income.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Yves Gingras  Chief, Employment and Education, Personal Income Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance
William Gleberzon  Associate Executive Director, Canadian Association of Retired Persons
Bill Trasher  Spokesperson, Canadians Asking for Social Security Equality
Andrew Auerbach  Tax Policy Officer, Corporate and International Tax, Tax Legislation Division, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Noon

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

I've spoken to the minister himself.

Noon

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

And have there been any negotiations?

Noon

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

There haven't been to this point. I think they clearly want to leave it. I can only presume what that minister wants, and that's to leave it to the fate of the committee. I'm prepared to have the committee do that in the same way as I'm prepared to allow Mr. St-Cyr's amendment to stand.

Noon

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

That's fair. Maybe there could be further discussions, and when we do come back, we can probably have something that everybody could agree to.

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

I think we'd all encourage that. Of course it's been a fulsome discussion. I think a number of good points have been raised. I congratulate the committee on the tone of the discussion as well, apart from Mr. McKay, of course.

Now I will suspend, and we'll ask the other—

Noon

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I could say the same of your chairmanship too.

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

Thank you.

I'll ask the other witnesses to come forward.

Thank you, Mr. McTeague, again, for being here.

A point of order, Madame Savoie.

Noon

NDP

Denise Savoie NDP Victoria, BC

As I'm not a regular member, could you clarify where we're going with this—both the amendment and the bill?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

It remains on the agenda. We will determine a future date to continue discussion. At this point, though—

Noon

NDP

Denise Savoie NDP Victoria, BC

So it will reappear at a future committee date? It will not be dealt with today?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

It will be at a future meeting. That's correct; it will not be today.

Monsieur Thibault, on a point of order.

Noon

Liberal

Robert Thibault Liberal West Nova, NS

Are you still receiving amendments to the bill?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

Why not? I think so. We're dealing with kind of a moving target here, as we all know. Certainly I think for all committee members, if you have other amendments, bring them forward. I would suggest, though, that you make it as soon as possible, naturally.

Noon

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Why don't we go to clause-by-clause now?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

We're going to hear from our witnesses.

Noon

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

No, but if we do clause-by-clause, it's all over with.

Noon

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

When do we have to report back?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

On a point of order, Mr. Wallace.

Noon

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

As with Mr. St-Cyr's amendment, if there are other amendments coming that present significant changes to this bill, I'd like them in advance so we can figure out what we're doing.

Noon

An hon. member

That way you can wake up afterwards and find out what you voted on.

Noon

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

When do we have to report back?

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

Could we have order? I'm responding to some questions that have been raised.

We have to report back sometime in the fall. I don't have a specific date, but we do have some time granted to us by the House to deal with this.

I would make the suggestion, though—and it will seem matter-of-fact, I think—that when you're coming with an amendment, come with numbers to back it up or show some research in advance. You may find that you'll speed the passage of your amendment or the defeat of it, either way.

Noon

Liberal

Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Speak to the mover of the bill. That would help.

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Brian Pallister

Speak to the mover of the bill.

Mr. McKay, on a point of order.

Noon

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, it seems to me that pretty well all the discussion on this bill is over with. The clauses are agreed to, and I don't know why we can't have a very short form—go to clause-by-clause, and get rid of this bill. What's wrong with it?