Evidence of meeting #23 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was may.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Soren Halverson  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Andrew Marsland  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Suzy McDonald  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Andrew Brown  Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment, Department of Employment and Social Development
Evelyn Dancey  Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development and Corporate Finance Branch, Department of Finance
Frank Vermaeten  Assistant Commissioner, Assessment, Benefit and Service Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Alexis Conrad  Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Cliff C. Groen  Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Canada - Benefit Delivery Services Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. David Gagnon

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

There's the Auditor General.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Yes, the Auditor General. Let's think about that and put a four-hour panel together from the parties for the week after next.

Next week we meet on Tuesday. We already have manufacturing and construction. Then each party can pull from the clerk's list of people who requested to appear for the second panel.

What do we want to do on Thursday?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

I'll put up my voice for arts, culture and sport, please. Whether it's next Thursday or the following Tuesday, I'm okay. I think fisheries was one of them, and that's a good suggestion. I also think that arts, culture and sport.... That committee is definitely not meeting, so this is a good spot for them to come.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Chair, is the heritage committee meeting?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

No.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

What's the acronym for the heritage committee? Does anybody know?

The ones that are meeting are industry or INDU, OGGO, HUMA, agriculture, and HESA or health. That's it.

4:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

There's PROC.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

PROC is meeting, but they don't—

4:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

They don't deal with sectors, yes.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

The indigenous committee is meeting as well, starting next week.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

Yes, but not the arts.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

Is the indigenous committee meeting?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Is INAN the indigenous one? I'm not sure of the acronyms, to be honest.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON

It is—indigenous and northern affairs.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Okay. They're meeting next Friday.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON

That's positive.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Yes.

Go ahead, Marty.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB

I just want to put a placeholder in at some point, although I agree that we need to fulfill our core mandate, as Pierre said.

I have heard from a number of people in the charitable sector. It may be relevant to our committee because most of the rules by which the charitable sector runs are under the Income Tax Act. Could you add that to your list at some point as a placeholder? Maybe we'll get there. I'm not sure how long we'll be meeting on the COVID crisis.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Okay.

We'll have Annie first, then James Cumming and then Peter.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC

I want to highlight the importance.... Whether it's the finance committee that does a panel or half a panel on the self-sufficiency piece....

I have heard from quite a few dentists, just to pick one professional order, in my riding and broader. Their concern is having enough PPE as they go back to work. It's a real concern. They're very worried for themselves, for their staff, for patients. Whether it's our committee that hears them or another, maybe there are opportunities for us to become self-sufficient and there's an opportunity to export to other areas, so let's learn from this experience. Whether it's at PROC, INDU or the finance committee, I think this merits a full discussion.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

We have the Canadian Dental Association tomorrow in the time slot from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Go ahead, James and then Peter.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

I absolutely agree with Pierre that, first and foremost, our role is to deal with issues related to finance, so that has my full support.

Many of the questions we hear from constituents and at this committee are directly related to the portfolio for the Minister of Small Business. I still think it would be worthwhile for us to hear from her on how those programs are being executed, because they have a big impact on finance and the economic activity in the country.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Hearing that, I'm not sure if anybody can tell me at which committee the Minister of Small Business would normally appear.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

James Cumming Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB

She has appeared in front of the industry committee, but I think it would be worthwhile for us to hear her at the finance committee.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Okay. I made note of that.

Peter Fragiskatos is next.