I appreciate the way we've been discussing this in our limited time.
We certainly support Mr. Mulcair's motion in principle, but I'm concerned that it's going to get way too broad and that under this language we would have witnesses come expecting us to interfere in provincial jurisdictions. We only regulate 7% of the private pension plans in this country. My concern is that they'll come here with expectations that we can interfere in the provinces, and I don't think we want to set up that false expectation. The other issue will be how pensions are treated under CCAA. That's an industry file. Bankruptcy and insolvency is another industry file. We'll get back to whether it is an industry issue. Should industry be looking at it? Should we be looking at it? I would like to propose an amendment, if I can just quickly read it out. I would view this as a friendly amendment to your motion, Mr. Mulcair:
That the committee hold meetings to hear witnesses and further study the issue of pensions and how to protect the retirement income of Canadians. These meetings should take place, as committee business allows, only after members have had sufficient time to study the findings of the research working group on retirement income adequacy that will be presented at the meeting of Canada's federal/provincial/territorial finance ministers to take place in Whitehorse on the 17th of December.
It is agreeing with the content of the motion. December 17 is the finance ministers meeting, and that report will be provided on overall retirement income adequacy. That's a good time to take a look at that so that we're not replowing the same ground. That's my suggestion for a friendly amendment.