Finance Committee on June 2nd, 2015

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

—the government should not be operating above the law. This budget bill won't just erase the long-gun registry records. The issue here is that it destroys any evidence around the destruction of those records. It destroys evidence of the RCMP breaking the law, as well as any evidence of political interference, and who ordered the RCMP to break the law.

How can you justify using a budget bill to destroy evidence of the committing of a crime?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, we're introducing legislation. This is the most democratic legal process one can have. We're presenting again to the Parliament of Canada legislation that the people's representatives will vote on, as they voted on the end of the long-gun registry.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

You have one minute.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

The OPP are now investigating the RCMP for illegally destroying these records. They don't have much time. Are you open to an amendment that would preserve evidence of any wrongdoing so that Canadians can find out who was responsible for breaking the law?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

As I said, there was a bureaucratic loophole. It was still possible to access outdated copies, and this clearly goes against the will of Parliament.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Minister, on balanced budget legislation, the balanced budget law says that it applies to this fiscal year. Under the law, when there are deficits because of a recession, ministerial pay is frozen until a balanced budget is recorded in the public accounts.

Since 2008 there have been only deficits. You have yet to post a surplus in the public accounts. Will the Prime Minister and the ministers pay back the salary increase they've been receiving since April 1 of this year in respect of this new balanced budget legislation?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

The balanced budget legislation, should it be approved, will—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Well, it applies this year, so will you be paying back the salary increases you have received?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Well, it will apply this year. There isn't a deficit. There won't be a deficit this year.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

There's still a deficit currently. We're still in deficit.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

No. When you determine whether you're in deficit, you have to wait until the year is over to find out whether you're in deficit or not, and we're forecasting—

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay—

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I guess that's a no.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

—a surplus.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

I guess that's a no.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you, Mr. Brison.

We'll go to you, please, Ms. Bateman, for your round.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you so much, Minister, and your officials, for joining us at the finance committee today. It's very much appreciated.

I have to say that I think you were a little modest in recapping. Not only have you balanced the budget, sir, in the context of taxes being at their lowest point in 50 years with over 180 tax reductions, but you've also done it in the context of dropping oil prices. You forgot to mention that you've done it while increasing transfers to the provinces and territories consistently since this government took over. I think it's a remarkable accomplishment.

Specifically, I'd love to hear you speak briefly about how Bill C-59 not only will help the first nations improve first nations services, and services offered to them, but also will improve the First Nations Fiscal Management Act.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Thank you very much for your questions. I appreciate your kind comments.

Our government is committed to equipping first nations with the tools they need to strengthen their governance, achieve greater self-sufficiency, and improve economic opportunities in their communities. The First Nations Fiscal Management Act has provided first nations who have opted in to act with fiscal powers similar to those exercised by other governments in Canada.

More specifically, it allows them to issue real property taxes, to certify their financial management systems, and to access low-cost long-term financing. The proposed amendments to the act would improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the act by reducing needless red tape and streamlining access to the act, so that more first nations can opt in, improving investor confidence in the legislation.

The amendments stem from the recommendations of and the consultations held by the three first nations-led institutions established under the legislation. Let me quote First Nations Tax Commission Chief Commissioner C.T. Jules, who said:

Over the last ten years, we have witnessed more and more First Nations moving away from the transfer dependency model that has stagnated First Nation communities and economies. We fully expect that the legislative improvements will mean we can provide better services to more First Nations who are achieving greater self-sufficiency, improving accountability, and attracting private investment for their economies.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Also, I know that Bill C-59 has done much to strengthen financing for developing countries and our support for them. Could you speak to the further support and financing we're offering for developing countries as well, sir?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Our government's commitment to helping people who live in poverty and responding to humanitarian crises remains strong. Our government understands that as the driving force behind economic growth, private sector investment is essential to raise people out of poverty and put them on the road to prosperity. So I'm pleased that our budget announced a new mechanism to partner with the private sector to help bring people out of poverty in developing countries. This legislation will therefore enable more effective partnering with the private sector and emerging and frontier markets on projects that support development results, thereby complementing Canada's official development assistance. It will enhance Canada's ability to advance its development priorities by partnering with the private sector to address critical financing gaps in developing countries.

With this initiative Canada joins other nations, including every G-7 country, that have put in place development finance tools. The establishment of this new initiative is an important addition to Canada's development tool kit, which will promote Canadian investment opportunities in developing countries.

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Thank you very much, Minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bateman.

Mr. Côté, the floor is yours for five minutes.

[Raymond Côté, NDP, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My thanks also go to the minister for being here with us today to answer our questions.

The big banks were particularly harsh in terms of the results for the first quarter of the year. The National Bank talked about “calamitous results”, TD Bank used the word “atrocious”, just like the Governor of the Bank of Canada.

In the budget, the expected growth was 1.2% for the first quarter of 2015 while the Bank of Canada forecasted 0%. The surplus of $1.4 billion that you claim to be able to free up is clearly based on the 1.2%.

In practical terms, what changed because of this quarter's results?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, at last week's G7 meeting, it seemed clear that the global economy is still fragile and that the growth is uneven and slow. The U.S. had a difficult first quarter. Growth—

[Raymond Côté, NDP, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Minister, but I don't want to hear your talking points. I want to know what that changes in terms of your surplus forecasts.