Evidence of meeting #27 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was enforcement.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I'll take your word for it, Mr. Chairman. The age factor, the mad cow, is beginning to kick in.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
--potential to extend it for another 30 days.
Does everyone understand the motion? We're asking the House to extend for 30 sitting days.
Mr. Pacetti, go ahead.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Again, before we vote, Mr. Chair, if I can, I'll put in my two cents.
We've already had this member before us. We've already had witnesses on this bill. We had this in the previous Parliament. I don't think either party is necessarily in love with this bill. I don't know why we have to try to extend it for 30 days. I am opposed to this bill. We can vote it up and down, but giving it an extra 30 days is not going to change anything.
The members have had plenty of time to bring forward amendments. There don't seem to be any. We've had time now. In 30 days we're going to be faced with the budget implementation. We're going to be putting pressure on the committee, for no reason, to try to have another hour or hour and a half to bring in finance officials and witnesses we've already heard from to add no extra input. So at this moment, I honestly do not feel comfortable giving a 30-day extension for this type of bill.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay. Is there any other debate?
Seeing none, all in favour?
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I have one more piece of housekeeping.
We had a motion put forward by Mr. Turner asking for the Minister of National Revenue, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Natural Resources. Seeing as they're being hesitant in appearing, perhaps we can just ask departmental officials from CRA and finance to come forward. I think we have time on Wednesday. We can just ask them to come for an hour or an hour and a half and ask them the questions related to that. That might accomplish the feat of asking the ministers.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Let's try to get that cleaned up between now and the break. Would that be fair enough? So whether it's Wednesday or next week--
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
If I have that flexibility as chair, I want to clean it up so we go into the break with nothing really coming out of the break except a couple of little housekeeping items, and then we can get into our study. Is that fair enough? Okay.
Anything further? Go ahead, Mr. Menzies.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I would start on Wednesday and next week. So between Wednesday and next week, we'll do the two things, hopefully. Okay?
With that, Mr. Crête, get your witnesses in to the clerk as soon as possible.
Oh, just a minute. We have one more item. The reason it isn't on the agenda is because it's subsequent to the motion of Mr. Crête, and it is a budgetary item that we need to....
No, it's not about raising my wage. It's not about raising yours, either. We need a motion to bring the witnesses forward.
Thank you, Mr. Mulcair.
Okay, we have the motion on the floor to pass this budget. Is there debate on that?
We'll have Mr. Pacetti.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Yes. Of course, we're spending $31,000 of taxpayers' money once again, in 30 seconds. I'm just not comfortable with it. We need to have somebody explain it to us, please.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I have a question.
We're spending $31,650. I think somebody should explain it to us in detail and at least spend the minute and a half trying to explain it, not necessarily 30 seconds--
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
The clerk is suggesting that it isn't true that we're going to actually spend that money. That is what is projected if it were followed through. We don't really know how much actual money is going to be spent to bring forward the witnesses, but this is a budget, and like any budget, it is an estimate.
If it was a full 24 witnesses and we went for a full four meetings, we would perhaps spend this kind of money, but hopefully we'll do it with much less.
Mr. Pacetti, go ahead.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
What is the limit before it goes to the liaison committee?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
So there seems to be a pattern developing to make sure that these amounts are under $40,000.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I'm not questioning the staff; the question is for the chairman.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Mr. Pacetti, the answer to that is this motion was brought forward by a Bloc member. We considered it and understood that once it passed, we would need to implement it, and if we were going to implement it, what it was going to cost. That's what the motion was here for. With that, we....
You have another question?
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Yes. I just want to know if the $1,200 per witness is the standard amount. I don't have the one from last week; I know we passed one last week. Was it similar? Is $1,200 the limit?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Is that the maximum limit, or is that what we just made up for the committee? And in the last budget we passed last week, was it also budgeted at $1,200 per witness?
You can't recall?
That's okay. We don't have to ask any questions. Let's just pass it as a matter—
