Finance Committee on Sept. 15th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #39 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was research.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Pre-budget Consultations 2009

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Timothy Weis Director, Renewable Energy and Efficiency, Pembina Institute

Beverley Smith Member, Care of the Child Coalitions

Manny Jules Chief Commissioner, First Nations Tax Commission

Michael Cleland President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Gas Association

Andrew Van Iterson Program Manager, Green Budget Coalition

Donald Johnson Senior Advisor, BMO Capital Markets

Jim Facette President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Airports Council

Katherine Carleton Executive Director, Orchestras Canada

Hassan Yussuff Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Labour Congress

John Davies Chair of the Board of Directors, Polytechnics Canada

Shirley-Ann George Senior Vice-President, Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Tina Kremmidas Chief Economist, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Deanna Groetzinger Vice-President, Government Relations and Policy, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Andrew Jackson Chief Economist and National Director, Social and Economic Policy, Canadian Labour Congress

11:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

As the chair, I want to ask one question of both the Labour Congress and the Chamber of Commerce.

In the past committee life of the industry committee, all parties endorsed a proposal for accelerated capital cost allowance for the manufacturing sector to move to a two-year writeoff system for capital depreciation. It was put partially in budget 2007, and then budgets 2008 and 2009. At that time, both business groups and labour groups endorsed the proposal. I just want to know whether your organizations do endorse continuing that measure.

Noon

Senior Vice-President, Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Shirley-Ann George

Yes, absolutely.

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Mr. Yussuff.

Noon

Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Labour Congress

Hassan Yussuff

Yes, without a doubt. I think it would be of tremendous assistance to those companies that want to modernize their facilities and put new equipment in, so yes.

Noon

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you for that.

I want to thank you for your presentations and for your responses to our questions.

We look forward to the rest of the hearings.

Members, we will see you back at 3:30.

The meeting is adjourned.