Evidence of meeting #4 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was evasion.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
This is just a suggestion. That's actually where I was going to go with my comments, the idea that we should put some meat on the bones and come back and see where it goes. Should we have the steering committee put the meat on the bones, or do you want the entire committee to do it?
Conservative
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
I have a point of order. If I'm correct, technically you can't distribute something from a previous session of Parliament without a motion. I would recommend that this motion be passed today to allow that information to come forward.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
It's not as if I want to drive a particular point, but I certainly want to be in compliance with the rules, and that was the reason we brought it here today.
The prioritization of what we do we can discuss in the fall. Nobody is trying to push for a particular time.
NDP
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
We need to get up to speed on what happened on the previous committee, so we need to be able to work on the documents as soon as possible.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
I'm going to propose an amendment to the motion. Rather than say “that the committee resume its study“, I move to amend by requiring “that the committee provide evidence and documentation relevant to the study on tax evasion and offshore bank accounts during the third session of the 40th Parliament”.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
That is still kept in confidentiality, and with the members? Is that correct?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Yes. The public hearings we had are on the website, so it's on the record.
We will add the two issues of charities and tax reform for discussion on September 20, and we'll discuss whether we'll do it by subcommittee or full committee.
The Clerk
That means we cannot go. I don't have the numbers. We don't vote on the motion for the pre-budget consultation.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
We had two motions to travel for the two weeks and we had specific amounts, but these specific amounts will change based on the travel, and logistics has not yet given us updated numbers. You're saying we have to have specific numbers for the board.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay, we'll do it in September. That's what I asked yesterday, but my understanding is that it has to be specific and contain some background.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
We haven't completed the previous motion. We agreed verbally, but can we do a vote on it to complete it?
After that, I have a suggestion on your problem.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
My understanding was that the motion passed unanimously.
All in favour of the motion?
(Motion as amended agreed to)
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
To continue on the problem you have, could we, based on past experience, insert numbers—let's say 10% more than what we would anticipate—to get under way? Would it be possible to correct it later if it should prove to be incorrect? If we find when we start that it's going to be more costly, we would go back. At least that way we could have things started and some of it put into place. If we find we've reached that level of cost, then we would have to get a second motion.
I don't know if that's appropriate. I've not done it before, but the idea is to get this under way. It would be good to get staff started on some of the work.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
My suggestion is that we work on getting the House to pass the motion that I read out, which is: “That during its consideration of matters pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), that the Standing Committee on Finance be authorized to adjourn from place to place within Canada and to permit the broadcasting of its proceedings thereon, and that the necessary staff accompany the committee”.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
If the board is asking for specifics, we don't have those specifics.