Finance Committee on April 20th, 2010

[Malcolm Hamilton]

It's not enough to get to being even.

[Daniel Paillé, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

No, it's just to be at zero.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay. Merci.

We'll finish.

Mr. Menzies, please.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Once again, thank you to our witnesses.

This has been an excellent panel that has put out a lot of good points.

Ms. George, I noted Perrin Beatty's comments about all governments working together. In fact, in your presentation you talked about that as well, about all government levels working together.

Some members of the opposition think they've found the magic bullet, that they've solved it, and we keep hearing that they already have the conclusion to fix it. I just want to note something for your interest. The finance minister and I have visited five different provinces of late. We saw finance minister Wes Sheridan in P.E.I., Kevin O'Brien in St. John's, Dwight Duncan in London, Ontario, Ted Morton in Calgary, and Rosann Wowchuk, all sitting shoulder to shoulder beside the finance minister, taking notes and listening to people, and we still don't think we have the exact answer. So I'd be encouraged to also hear from your members, and we appreciate this.

But there is no magic bullet. We hope that coming out of this process your members can provide even more advice on this. That's just a quick comment, if you will.

[Shirley-Ann George]

Thank you for that.

We are always very encouraged when the federal and the provincial governments can work hand in hand on issues. In Canada it's the only way we can make any substantive progress on these tough challenges. All too often we see bunfights between the two levels of government, so we're encouraged by what we've seen.

On your request for more input from Canadians, we would be happy to send out a notice to our chambers across the country and encourage those that have views to submit them. I assume you mean into the finance department's consultations...?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Yes, we have an online consultation at the Finance Canada website.

[Shirley-Ann George]

We'd be happy to do that.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Very briefly, Mr. Menzies.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

I need to address Monsieur Paillé's comment about an urban legend. Very quickly, I will share with the folks here the rural truth, reflecting on the fact that if we change the creditor status in this issue, it will affect businesses. We're challenged in the rural areas right now. Farmers are signing general security agreements for a minimal part of their operating money for the year. They can't go back anywhere and get any more financing.

So we need to be very cautious about crippling these companies by encumbering them with the similar situation with the creditor status. We need to be very, very cautious. I would welcome Mr. Paillé's visit out to my part of the world and we'll show it to him.

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

We ran out of time for questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay.

Did you want to comment on that? Is that a final comment, then?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

That's fine. I won't abuse my time, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you, Mr. Menzies.

Mr. Wallace, you wanted to move your motion.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to move the motion, which was handed out, to request the Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide an estimate on the cost of Bill C-290, the private member's bill that is coming back to this committee.

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Thank you. I think it's information we can all use.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Is there any discussion?

Monsieur Paillé.

[Daniel Paillé, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance to tell us whether the minister has confidence in the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Of course--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Daniel Paillé, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

If he does not have confidence in him, what is the point of doing these things?

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

We're all looking for...[Inaudible--Editor]. We listen all the time, Monsieur Paillé.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Call the question. Let's go.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

It's unanimous. Thank you. That's carried.

I want to thank the witnesses. As was mentioned many times, this was an excellent panel and excellent suggestions were brought forward. We appreciate that very much.

If you have anything further you wish the committee to consider, please forward it to the clerk. We will ensure all members get it.

Thank you for your time today.

The meeting is adjourned.