Finance Committee on Oct. 22nd, 2012

[Guillaum Dubreuil]

Actually, I think there's always a way to pay back RRSPs and that's why there would be a fairly lengthy timeline to allow for that. In other words, if for whatever reason that business went bankrupt, the individual would still have enough time to turn things around. That is why we want to provide for that lengthy timeline.

The main idea is that in all investments and expenditures, there can be ups and downs. Under the Home Buyers' Plan, a house can be purchased with RRSPs. Who's to say that two weeks after the purchase of a new property, a hog facility, for example, or a factory won't be built beside that property, which would end up in a loss of value. There is no way of being completely protected from that.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

I'll just remind members to allow witnesses enough time to answer. I don't want to be cutting off dialogue, but I will indicate to you how much time you have left.

We'll go now to Mr. Adler.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Witnesses, I want to thank you all for being here today and making representation before our finance committee.

I'd like to begin with Mr. Collyer. We have an overabundance of liquid natural gas and natural gas. We have a window right now to take advantage of this opportunity, but we currently don't have an export facility to export liquid natural gas. Is that correct?

[David Collyer]

That is correct, yes.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

The Americans have one, south of the 49th parallel. Correct?

[David Collyer]

Yes.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

We need to build those export facilities in order to take advantage of the low price of liquid natural gas so we can export to developing markets. Do you have a plan in place for how we can create these export facilities, particularly on the west coast? Have you determined the jobs that this would create and how beneficial it would be to the economy?

[David Collyer]

It is extremely important that we develop these facilities.

From a policy standpoint, there are several things the government has done that have been helpful. The review of the regulatory process has been helpful. Some of the work that's been done with respect to workforce—temporary foreign workers—has been helpful. A number of initiatives such as the foreign trade missions and the numerous visits to China, Korea, and Japan to promote Canadian products have been helpful as well.

The fiscal element would be helpful in the near term and would put us on a much better competitive footing relative to the people we're competing against. It would also treat these facilities in a manner comparable with those of other processing facilities in Canada.

Therefore, the government can be helpful, but at the end of the day, these are private sector investments that need to be moved forward. The job of government is to create a fiscal environment that attracts investment and allows us to proceed.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Yes, and we've been fairly successful at doing that.

The manufacturers are in favour of a lower price for natural gas. The exporters are in favour of a higher price for natural gas. Do you see these two as conflicting?

[David Collyer]

The market has to work for buyers and sellers—that is the simple answer.

However, there are a couple of points I'd like to make. One is further to Mr. Brison's earlier comments. This is good for the development of natural gas; it's also good for expanding the use of natural gas as a fuel and in making industry more competitive across North America, so it will benefit the economy in both ways and create significant jobs and economic growth.

It would be extremely helpful if the government were to make this fiscal change, which is effectively a reclassification to treat these facilities like others that are doing similar things.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

How am I doing for time, Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

You have one minute and 20 seconds.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Thank you.

In terms of skilled labour, you're facing a shortage, are you not?

[David Collyer]

Yes, we are.

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Okay. I assume I have a minute left, now, Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

You have one minute five. Do you want me to do a five-second countdown?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

I have a question for Mr. Aylward. I'm looking at the Constitution of the Public Service Alliance of Canada right now, and it says that your objects are to unite all workers in a single, democratic organization; to obtain for all workers the best standards of compensation and other conditions of employment; and to protect the rights and interests of all workers—terrific—and to maintain and defend the right to strike.

Those are all wonderful objectives, and consistent with the objectives of a union. However, I'm also looking at your website, and I'm seeing under the media section that you've issued a number of statements criticizing Israel for defending itself from rocket attacks into the southern part of Israel.

How is that consistent with defending the right to strike and creating a democratic organization in the Public Service Alliance of Canada?

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

There is a point of order for Ms. Nash, please.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

With respect, I'm wondering what foreign policy and foreign affairs have to do with our finance discussion. It seems we're in pre-budget hearings, and I'm wondering if we should bring in our foreign affairs critics here.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

As members of this committee know, I am very flexible, as all speakers in the House are, with respect to relevance. Pre-budget consultations are very broad, so the question has been asked. I think we should allow Mr. Aylward an opportunity to respond to the question.

[Chris Aylward]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, although I thought I would be addressing questions concerning how these cuts are affecting Canadians. Unfortunately, that wasn't the question.

First of all, I'm not a union boss—

[A voice]

This is embarrassing.

[Chris Aylward]

Can I answer the question?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Mr. Aylward, you have the floor.