Finance Committee on May 5th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #25 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Main Estimates 2009-2010: Vote 1 under CANADA REVENUE AGENCY and Votes 1, 5 and L10 under FINANCE

MPs speaking

Also speaking

William Baker Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Revenue Agency

Sherry Harrison Executive Director, Corporate Services Branch, Department of Finance

Paul Rochon Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Alfred LeBlanc Director, Federal - Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Jeremy Rudin Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Brian Ernewein General Director, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Jim Haley General Director, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance

Richard Botham Director, Microeconomic Policy Analysis, Economic Development and Corporate Finance, Department of Finance

James Ralston Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner, Finance and Administration Branch, Canada Revenue Agency

Wayne Adams Director General, Income Tax Rulings Directorate, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch, Canada Revenue Agency

Alan Freeman Assistant Deputy Minister, Consultations and Communications Branch, Department of Finance

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I have a point of clarification. Are we expected to use our travel points to get down there? That seems to be the presumption. Yes?

Well, that could be a problem if you're on Canada-U.S. You have four points, and I've already used one. This will be my second point, and it's only June. I suspect that's true for pretty well anybody who takes an active role in Canada-U.S. I don't mind, but I want to flag this for anybody who is interested in Canada-U.S. parliamentary affairs. We're using up our personal budgets to participate in committee work. That's not quite right.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Well, it's true--I'm an executive member of Canada-U.S. as well, so it affects me too--but I think the rationale....

The first thing the Liaison Committee would ask me, I presume, would be, “Why are you not using the points allocated to fly from Ottawa to Washington?” If the committee so desires, I could put that forward, but....

11 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Perhaps when you're making your presentation, you could flag the issue. I would not like to be in a situation, nor would you, where in December or February we wanted to participate in something and we couldn't go because we'd used up our points.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Yes, that's a fair point.

Mr. Pacetti.

11 a.m.

Liberal

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

Thank you.

I just noticed something. If we claim our points, are we going to be able to ask the committee for the per diem? Aren't we supposed to claim our per diem when we claim our points?

This is mainly administrative, but I'm not sure whether, when we claim our points, we shouldn't be claiming our per diem as well on our expense reports.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

You mean claiming it with your points rather than with the committee.

11 a.m.

Liberal

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

Yes. I don't think we have to. We can claim the per diem here. We're not doubling up, right?

I mean, we can leave it. The budget is fine. I just wanted to check this out administratively. I have no problem using my points, but if there are members who need to use their points for Canada-U.S., we could maybe allocate an extra one or two spots on the budget and increase it, if need be.

But I have no problem utilizing my points. I know that's been an issue in the past, even when we travelled on committee.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Do members want to amend this request, then?

11 a.m.

Liberal

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

I'm fine.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Does anyone want to move it?

11 a.m.

Liberal

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

I can move it.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

All in favour of this travel budget request?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Wallace.

11 a.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

For our purposes, and for the purposes of the people who fill our spots and stuff, when will you know if it's official that we can go? Is it official that it's happening?

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

I have to go to the liaison subcommittee at one o'clock today. The House must approve it. So the whips have to approve it.

11 a.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Right. So will that be in a short period of time? Have you any idea?

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

It depends very much on the whips. As you know, I don't control our whip, so....

Monsieur Carrier.

11 a.m.

Bloc

Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC

I just wanted to check something. Will the committee be meeting next Thursday?

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

This Thursday we have a meeting from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., our normal slot. Next week we switch to 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon, Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday morning we have the meeting with a delegation from Pakistan from 9:30 to 10:30.

11 a.m.

Bloc

Robert Carrier Bloc Alfred-Pellan, QC

Thank you.

11 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you.

This meeting is adjourned.