Finance Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2012

[Marie-France Kenny]

As far as investments go, we have to keep in mind the reality of the needs as they are. If a criterion required 100 employees or more, our companies may be too small. What really needs to be taken into account is the uniqueness of each community and company. It is not like one-size-fits-all clothing. So criteria should be established, but they should retain some flexibility. That would work for us. I could not provide a criterion for each community, as that would take too long.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

You can think about it and submit any relevant information to us. I would be very interested in having a look at that information. I understand what you are saying about the size of companies in minority or francophone communities, but if you have any other information, you can send it to us. I am really interested in this.

[Marie-France Kenny]

We could certainly send you that information.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Before we move to Mr. Awad, I want to ask you another question.

We are talking about unprecedented roadmap investments, but the roadmap also allocated funds in areas such as those you have mentioned—immigration and health. In Saint-Boniface, the community health board, with Annie Bédard, carried out a survey that really helped the francophone community.

In the past, have there been any specific years where investments in our communities were higher? People are always saying that this is unprecedented, but if we take into account agreements with provinces and territories on French-language education, the contribution of the roadmap and projects developed by Canadian Heritage and so on, is that still true?

[Marie-France Kenny]

There have been certain years when investments in assistance for community life programs were higher. They have long since been reduced.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

When was that?

[Marie-France Kenny]

I could obtain that information, but I believe it was in 1998. Investments were higher. They were then cut, and increased again a little bit afterwards. They stabilized and are still stable, but as we have obtained status quo and not a cost-of-living adjustment, we have taken a huge step back. As far as the roadmap goes, there has been a significant increase. There have also been some recurrent investments, which was confirmed by Minister Moore.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

So that you can be sure of your answer, tell me in which year the investments were higher than they are now. It is being said that this is unprecedented, but I am talking about all the support. I don't want it to be divided into portions.

[Marie-France Kenny]

If you are talking about the funding for the roadmap and....

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

No, I am talking about all the funding.

[Marie-France Kenny]

In terms of all the funding, I don't think it has ever been as high as it is now, but the funding for the program for community support has been higher in the past. That portion has been much bigger in the past.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Could you send that information to me?

[Marie-France Kenny]

Yes, of course.

I'm going to turn to Mr. Awad.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Sorry—

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Am I done?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Yes. We're 10 seconds over.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Oh. I wanted to address this wonderful book.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Colleagues, I do apologize, but I've just been informed there's a meeting in this room at 7 p.m., and I have another committee.

I have two more MPs who'd like to ask questions. I have Ms. McLeod and Mr. Adler.

Can you do one question each? We'll have brief responses, please.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Actually, I don't need a response. I just want to ask for something to be tabled, because I don't think there'll be enough time.

I certainly appreciate your thoughts in terms of tax credits being reconfigured into the student grant program, but I do have a lot of concerns that there will be significant unintended consequences. I don't know if you've analyzed the potential impact. For example, 60% of the students graduate without debt. Some of them are doing co-op programs, and they count on that tax credit to keep them not paying taxes.

My concern and my strong belief is that there would be a whole lot of people who are maybe struggling to make sure their children graduate without debt. I'd really like some analysis of that tax credit system. I think we would have a lot of problems in terms of unintended consequences.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Mr. Awad, you can address it briefly and then you can follow up with the committee as well.

[Adam Awad]

We're certainly not recommending that any kind of snap movement be made just so that the people who do fall into that category aren't negatively affected. It's more to determine the actual mechanism for grandfathering out to people who are currently benefiting from those programs and finding a way to shift that so that anyone who newly comes into the system would instead benefit from that money coming up front in the form of grants.

We can certainly follow up once this wraps up.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

We're really pushing up against time, Mr. Adler. Do you have one question, or can we cut it here?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Can I have two questions?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Could you have one brief question, because they have this booked at 7:00?

[Mark Adler, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

It's one brief question.

Mr. Everson, how many members does the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have?