Finance Committee on Feb. 5th, 2020

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

—but I'm limited on time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

You have six seconds left, so you better make it quick.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I have only six seconds. Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Minister, I think we had half of the Londoners here in the last three days.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I've heard that Mayor Holder was here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We will have to go to Mr. Cumming.

We'll take two more five-minute questions, which will run us a little over the time, Minister.

Go ahead, Mr. Cumming.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Madam Minister, thanks for coming here today, and congratulations on your appointment.

We've heard a lot from many of the witnesses today on small business. I will tell you that a small business often is very small, meaning it could be a husband and a wife or just an individual. They, without question, would like to fit into this definition of middle class. They would love a good home, education, a job and a nice retirement. What they're struggling with is the continual increase in input taxes in everything they do, whether that be through a carbon tax or increases in CPP and EI regulations.

Can you tell me something specifically you'll be focusing on in the budget to try to lessen the burden on these hard-working Canadians?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

At this time, I cannot know what will be in the budget. The most important thing right now is to be listening to Canadians. You are right: Small business people are sharing their realities and their priorities as we have the opportunity to meet many small businesses. During the start of my tour, I went to Cavalier Tool, in Windsor. They mentioned that they appreciated that we did lower the taxes for small business, but they wanted us to concentrate also on innovation and how we can help them go toward the transition to a cleaner economy. They also wanted us to make sure there were opportunities for businesses to have access to the people who had the skills to work in their businesses.

By doing these consultation tours and listening to small businesses, we'll better understand their priorities and make sure that we continue to strengthen our economy to support small businesses, because we know that small business is the backbone of our economy.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

On the debt, I appreciate that there's been action to lower the small business tax, but that's not what I was getting at. Certainly, if they're making money, they appreciate the supports. They can put that capital back into their business, but my question is more specific to this drive to increase all the input costs going into a business. I'd encourage you to come out to Alberta and attend some of the round tables that we're having, hearing about the real issues they're having with these increasing costs.

I hope that in this budget you'll be able to consider those things. They're real and they're impacting small businesses, which are mostly individuals. I'd like to hear if you have any travels into Alberta specifically to hear from small businesses in Alberta.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

As you know, all of us, Minister Morneau, me and even Sean Fraser, the parliamentary secretary, started the pre-budget consultation tour on January 13, and we still have some time to go. I'm going out west next week, and we will be continuing to listen to Canadians from across the country. Of course, we want to hear from businesses in Alberta. We know that these small businesses in Alberta are sending us a message, and we want to work with them.

There's one thing I didn't mention that we have done as a government since 2015 because we really wanted to take meaningful action on supporting business competitiveness. We introduced the new accelerated investment incentive to support new business investment so that some small businesses can have access to this. We also took action to make Canada's regulatory system simpler, fairer and more modern. These are the types of measures that we've taken. During the pre-budget consultations we'll hear about priorities for small business.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

You have time, Mr. Cumming, if you want to make one last point.

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'll pass, thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Then it's over to Ms. Koutrakis.

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Thank you for being here, Minister, and to the officials. I know it's nine o'clock. I don't know how the rest of us feel, but I'm kind of feeling the day. Thank you for accepting our invitation and for agreeing to appear.

We typically view the Minister of Finance as being responsible for the Canadian economy overall. I see your role to be at least in part to make sure the benefits of our policies promote growth and help ordinary Canadian families, not just the wealthy. The policies we adopted in the previous Parliament have put more than $2,000 in the pockets of a typical Canadian family. Can you tell me why this approach is important, and what kinds of policies you will pursue to help make life more affordable for groups like families, students and seniors?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Again, I'd like to not understate but really emphasize the fact that since 2015 we've been putting in place measures to help the middle class and really strengthen the economy. Having a strong middle class means that we can have a stronger economy. As per my mandate, I will be working closely with the Minister of Finance but also all cabinet ministers, to ensure that we take that reality of affordability, of quality of life and also financial security, and make sure that our programs or measures support the middle class.

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

In my riding of Vimy, I’ve spoken to countless families in Laval who have said how helpful the Canada child benefit has been for them. As you mentioned, nine out of 10 families have more money in their pockets today than they did before, thanks to the benefit. In fact, more than 11,800 families received the Canada child benefit in 2017.

I know this remains a priority for the government, so describe, if you would, Minister, how you intend to help Canadian families and strengthen the middle class?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you for your question. I think you’re right to say that the Canada child benefit made a difference in the lives of many Canadians. As you pointed out, it has had a positive impact for nine out of 10 families.

Keep in mind that other measures have been taken to help people join the middle class and overcome poverty. As a government, we’ve committed to increasing the basic personal amount to $15,000, which will cut taxes for 20 million Canadians by 2023. That’s a tangible action we are taking to help the middle class.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Are you all in and all done?

That will end our round of discussions.

Minister, I sincerely want to thank you and all the officials in the room who came as well.

I want to mention, though, that we have had over the last three days, and no doubt will again tomorrow, some excellent presentations by folks with a wide ranging view of recommendations, which we will compile and put in a report to have tabled by February 28. We will be meeting on it as committee members from all sides. We will have a number of recommendations that we certainly hope will be considered, because they're based on heartfelt presentations by people who came on very short notice to this committee.

If you were to talk to the clerk, I think he would tell you that with pretty near every call that was made, the invitation was accepted on very short notice. Therefore, we need to see in the budget that their efforts in coming before this committee to have their say are heard and acted upon in the best way possible. I know we really have to control our spending as well, but that's where we hope to go as a committee.

With that, we will meet tomorrow from 11 until 2 p.m., and from 3:30 to 6 p.m.. As mentioned earlier by the parliamentary secretary, the Minister of Finance will be before the committee from 12:30 to 1:30 on February 19.

Thank you again, and thank you to the officials.

The meeting is adjourned.