Evidence of meeting #62 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Sorry to interrupt, but it was at the point in time that the government said they wanted reductions. You weren't looking at this change prior to that?
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
No, we weren't.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Okay.
So—I'm trying to choose my words carefully—this change was not because of a need within your department but solely to save money?
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
Our department was required to reduce our budget by 9.7%. We reviewed a number of areas. Our operations are very prescribed through legislation and regulations, so in terms of our ability to reduce our budget, again, from the analysis that was conducted, one of the options was looking at a legislative amendment similar to other departments that are here—
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
I understand. It's just that in the particular area of your work, I'd be far more interested in having a change come about because of the need for the change as opposed to the need to reallocate some money someplace.
I don't doubt that you've worked diligently in getting here, but I am surprised, because that was going to be one of my questions: why was this not a legislative bill separated out here someplace? This isn't your doing, but it's gotten wedged into this bill along with so many other things. That was my point when I started this round of questioning.
So you really answered my question. If you hadn't been asked to do this to save money, this wouldn't have taken place because it wasn't part of your department's plans.
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
Well, I don't set the legislative agenda—
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
—so I wouldn't necessarily be able to....
4:45 p.m.
NDP
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
Yes. Even then, we're an independent tribunal, so we have a different relationship in terms of our legislative mandate. It's a little bit arm's length.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
I want to clarify this, Ms. Brisebois, just to make sure I heard correctly. You're saying that currently in about 50% of the cases this in-person contact is being waived.
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
Yes. Within the legislation we are required to have a hearing for these types of cases, and in approximately 50% of the cases the offenders will waive their right to a hearing.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay. So what this does is say that it's allowed, or it could happen. It's simply changing it so that it's not legally required.
4:45 p.m.
Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
That's right. The board will still retain the discretion to hold a hearing where it feels that it is warranted. There will likely continue to be cases where we'll hold a hearing where board members feel that it's warranted to have a hearing.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that very much.
I appreciate your coming before our committee. Thank you.
We will move on to division 38, to the Coasting Trade Act, and to our Transport Canada officials.
Thank you very much for being with us today. If you want to give us an overview of these clauses, then we'll have questions from members.
4:45 p.m.
Louise Laflamme Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport
Thank you.
I'm Louise Laflamme, working in the marine policy group at Transport Canada. I'm here to talk to you about division 38, clause 531.
First, the Coasting Trade Act reserves Canada's coasting trade for Canadian vessels. Coasting trade includes the transportation of goods and passengers between points in Canada and any marine activity of a commercial nature. When above the continental shelf, these activities must be in relation to the exploration and exploitation of the minerals and natural resources of the continental shelf.
What the clause proposes to do is to amend the Coasting Trade Act to add a new exemption from obtaining a coasting trade licence for seismic activities that are above the continental shelf and are in relation to the exploration for its minerals and natural resources.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you very much for that.
Are there questions from members?
Mr. Marston.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
I have just a very quick question.
Is the intent of this to open the door to allow foreigners—foreign entities, businesses, or whatever—to operate within those boundaries that normally would be Canadian?
4:50 p.m.
Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport
Well, what the Coasting Trade Act does, as I said, is reserve it to Canadian-registered vessels. There is currently in the Coasting Trade Act an administrative process to allow for the temporary importation of foreign vessels. So you have to be a Canadian resident or natural person to import these vessels. What this would do is add an exemption to the ones that already exist now in the act where foreign vessels would operate in Canada without a licence.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Let us be brief. Do you know whether this provision has also been considered by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans?