Evidence of meeting #165 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was beer.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Peter Fragiskatos  London North Centre, Lib.
Raymond Massey  Interim Executive Director, Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
Athana Mentzelopoulos  Vice-President, Government Relations, Canadian Credit Union Association
Geneviève de Breyne-Gagnon  Advocacy Coordinator, Canadian Federation of University Women
Stephen Laskowski  President, Canadian Trucking Alliance
Toby Sanger  Executive Director, Canadians for Tax Fairness
Beth Woroniuk  Policy Lead, MATCH International Women’s Fund
Sarah Watts-Rynard  Past Executive Director, Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
Luke Harford  President, Beer Canada
Jack Froese  President, Canadian Canola Growers Association
Ron Lemaire  President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Dan Paszkowski  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vintners Association
Louise Bradley  President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Ed Mantler  Vice-President, Programs and Priorities, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Jan Westcott  President and Chief Executive Officer, Spirits Canada
Kim Rudd  Northumberland—Peterborough South, Lib.
Blake Richards  Banff—Airdrie, CPC
Rick White  Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Canola Growers Association

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

You said that 10 people commit suicide in Canada every day.

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

I assume those numbers actually under-represent, given that many people who are victims of the opiate crisis are sometimes considered also to have committed suicide through the use of that drug.

So the economic cost per day is $10 million. That is pretty profound for us to learn as a committee. But your ask is fairly small.

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

You're looking at $44.5 million over five years. That's $9 million a year, yet the economic costs are $10 million a day.

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada

5:35 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Are you revising that request because of having come before Finance before and not having pickup? If you could draft a budget request that would make a difference immediately in that high rate of suicide, what would it be?

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada

Louise Bradley

We have increased the numbers since the last time we were here. To your point about the opiate deaths, we now know from a recent statistic that 31% of hospitalizations from opiate overdoses are actually incidents of self-harm. Your point is very well taken and very accurate.

We believe this is a modest request but it would allow us to do a research demonstration project. We don't want to keep researching this forever. This would allow us to take action and will save lives while we are researching it. After that, we would be looking at scaling up when we have evidence.

To the earlier point, whether we have data yet to show that we can have the same, or better, statistics in Canada as elsewhere, we don't know, but we believe that to be true. You may be aware of our last project, At Home/Chez Soi, which was a $110-million project over five years. The outcomes we were able to demonstrate through that research were significant, and it has now impacted public policy provincially and federally.

We do believe that would serve us well. However, if we were given more, we would certainly make good use of it.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Thank you, both.

The last question goes to Mr. Sorbara.

September 19th, 2018 / 5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

My question is for the Canadian Canola Growers Association on the accelerated capital cost allowance. Yesterday we also heard from equipment manufacturers who requested the same sort of thing.

I would expect that we will have a fall economic statement coming up. It's traditional.

The accelerated capital cost allowance is a powerful tool. How useful would it be to your members, to the farmers out there?

5:40 p.m.

Rick White Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Canola Growers Association

Thank you for the question.

From a farmer's perspective, every farm is different; they operate differently. However, I think what they all have in common is that it's a very capital-intensive business, and that's what makes it risky.

Giving farmers the option to have an accelerated capital cost allowance is an option that I think many would find very appealing, maybe not all of them. However, it would certainly be helpful.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON

If I may follow up, I know that in farming these days, yields are being impacted by everything. There are a lot of new technologies being brought in, like geo-mapping, so farmers know not only when to go out there but how to put their machines out, etc. There are a number of companies that do that, and it's quite exciting.

I want to switch to the spirits and vintners. Can you give me some commentary on investment trends in the industry versus outside jurisdictions?

5:40 p.m.

President, Beer Canada

Luke Harford

The investment trends right now are really good. Between Molson and Labatt, my two largest members, you're talking $1.5 billion that's going to be invested in Canada between now and 2022. Molson itself has two greenfield operations opening up.

My point is not that the government doesn't have the privilege to increase tax. My point is that there's no check currently in the mechanism that would have it look at the things in the marketplace that would make it review or reconsider its approach.

Right now, it's good because it's baked in, but where does it go from here? There's no mechanism for review. That's the concern.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Dan, go ahead, very quickly.

5:40 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Vintners Association

Dan Paszkowski

As you know, we have two parts to our business: one is the 100% Canadian part. We have seen significant investment over the past 10 years and continuing today, in terms of 400 new wineries opening over the past 10 years, contributing an additional $2.6 billion to the economy.

The second part of our business is the blended business, which is 80% of our total production. The excise accelerator definitely impacts that, because all those wines are sold under $10 per bottle and the excise tax is flat. It's currently 64 cents a litre, regardless of the price of wine. We can't pass that on to the consumers, which means we have to eat it. That's limited money that now I can't put into hiring new people or investing in new technology or becoming more competitive. We have a challenge on the blended side of the business right now.

The exemption on the excise tax in 2006 definitely helped us on the 100% Canadian side to invest into the economy.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

I'm afraid we're going to have to pack it in there.

I will remind committee members that it's 8:45 a.m. tomorrow, in room 237, Centre Block.

Thank you to all the witnesses. I'm sorry for having to rush you.

The meeting is adjourned.