Finance Committee on Nov. 3rd, 2011

Evidence of meeting #28 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was shall.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-13, An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011 and other measures

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ted Cook Senior Legislative Chief, Tax Legislation Division, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Gérard Lalonde Director, Tax Legislation Division, Department of Finance

Colin Bird Director, Softwood Lumber Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

4:15 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

(Clauses 146 and 147 agreed to on division)

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Part 5 includes clauses 148 and 149, on pages 193 and 194, and deals with the Canada Education Savings Act.

Shall clauses 148 and 149 carry?

4:15 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

(Clauses 148 and 149 agreed to on division)

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

We have part 6. Part 6 deals with Children's Special Allowances, in clauses 150 and 151, and begins on page 195.

Shall clauses 150 and 151 carry?

4:15 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

(Clauses 150 and 151 agreed to on division)

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Part 7 deals with federal financial assistance for students, in clauses 152 to 159 on pages 196 to 199.

Shall clauses to 152 to 159 carry?

Mr. Julian.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

There is an amendment.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

I'm sorry. You are correct. There is an amendment.

Let's do clause 152 first--

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Sure.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

--because there is an amendment on clause 153.

Shall clause 152 carry?

4:15 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

(Clause 152 agreed to on division)

(On clause 153)

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

We'll go to clause 153 now. Thank you for reminding me.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

We wouldn't want to miss the excitement of offering an amendment that the government will surely support.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Mr. Julian, you have the floor.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Clause 153 deals with family physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners in underserved rural and remote communities.

Currently, the proposal in the bill is that the minister may forgive an amount in respect of a student loan to a borrower who begins to work in an underserved rural or remote community as a family physician, nurse, or nurse practitioner--if the borrower meets the prescribed conditions, of course.

What we have is a situation wherein the minister ensures that the borrower meets the prescribed conditions, but then the minister has the choice as to whether or not to forgive that amount. This is an important issue. We believe that moving the proposed amendment, changing line 26 on page 196 from “may” to “shall”, would put an obligation on the minister--if, of course, the borrower meets the prescribed conditions, which are always the entry point. The minister would have the obligation to forgive the amount.

We think this adds an extra element around the importance of the currently underserved rural and remote communities.

I'd like to move this amendment. I believe it's in order.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you, Mr. Julian. That amendment is in fact in order.

Is there any further debate on the amendment? No? Okay. I will call the question on the amendment.

(Amendment negatived)

The amendment is defeated, so we'll now vote on the clause. Shall clause 153 carry?

On division?

4:20 p.m.

An hon. member