Evidence of meeting #67 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Jean-François Pagé

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I request recorded votes on all of this, please.

Second, I will not be supporting the amendment for two reasons. The first reason, which I outlined earlier, is that if we are going to have this, we could have had this amendment costed and discussed. Whether it is a small deduction or a large deduction, I have no idea. The second reason is it is completely discriminatory. My daughter, who is from an urban area, would not qualify for this tax credit, but somebody who is from an area a few miles away may. Why would we build in a labour discriminatory provision automatically in this? I am shocked. I know it is from the Bloc, but it was a Liberal idea. It discriminates against young people based on where they are from. Because you're from a city, you don't get the tax credit. But because you are from a rural area, you do. I think that is wrong.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you, Mr. Wallace

Mr. McCallum.

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON

I think there is a double objective in this amendment. One is that it would represent a substantial saving of cost. Two, it helps to promote the stated objective of the bill, which is regional development. So if you live in Saskatoon or Halifax and you get the subsidy, there will be less encouragement for people to return to the smaller towns, which is truly regional development and is what the stated purpose of the bill is. I think that's a worthwhile purpose, given that in many regions of the country we have depopulation and problems of that kind. I don't think you want to have larger metropolitan centres in competition. Plus, it has the added benefit of reducing the cost.

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Okay, thank you, Mr. McCallum.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

(Clause 1 as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

(Title agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

(Bill as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

11:30 a.m.

Bloc

Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

On the question you raised concerning the chair reporting the bill, I would like you to add the words "that the chair report to the House by December 2, 2009".

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

I have to report it by tomorrow anyway. So I'm not sure what that.... If you want to add it, we can add it.

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

Yes, I would like it to be added, and a recorded vote taken.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

All right. Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House by tomorrow, December 2?

11:35 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

On division.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Finally, shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House at report stage?

11:35 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

On division.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

All right. We'll suspend for two minutes and we'll go back in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]