Finance Committee on March 25th, 2021

Evidence of meeting #30 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was programs.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Covid-19 spending and programs

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Yves Juneau Chief Executive Director, Association des stations de ski du Québec

Mathew Wilson Senior Vice-President, Policy and Government Relations, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

William Ross Co-ordination Officer, Collectif Échec aux paradis fiscaux

Shelley Besse Chief Credit Officer, First West Credit Union

Kevin Murphy Chief Executive Officer and Spokesperson, President of Murphy Hospitality Group, PEI Business Continuity Group

Karl Littler Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Retail Council of Canada

Jean-Michel Ryan Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mont Sutton, Association des stations de ski du Québec

Kendall Gross President, Island Savings, First West Credit Union

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Alexandre Roger

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I agree with my colleague Tamara Jansen.

Personally, I agree that there should be no limitations on trade. When we have good agreements and the people involved are equals, I am in favour of free trade.

However, as I see it, this is about the provinces, and they can negotiate amongst themselves. I am against Ottawa stepping in and telling the provinces what to do. I am in favour of the principle, but I don't think that Parliament or the Standing Committee on Finance should debate it.

I'm not against Mr. Julian's amendment, but I will vote against the final motion, because I don't feel the Standing Committee on Finance should be debating it.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Okay. We're on the amendment.

We have Mr. Fast, and then Ms. Dzerowicz.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

What I would say to Ms. Dzerowicz is that I think this kind of study is probably warranted. It would bring us up to date on the barriers to interprovincial trade within Canada.

The problem is that you've included the words “urgent study”, and this is not urgent. It is very important. A number of our national business associations have highlighted that this is important. We do not in any way minimize the importance of this kind of work. However, to suggest that it is urgent also raises the concern that this would displace other work we would be doing at this committee over the next month or two. For example, we have to complete the work we have before us right now, the study on the COVID response. We will likely have a budget coming down the pipe, if we don't get into an election before then.

So, Mr. Chair, for those reasons, I do support Mr. Julian's amendment—because that's what we're debating—because it sets a fixed time in the fall when this would be considered. That's eminently reasonable.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter

Okay. We will have to take up this discussion at a future date. We are a little less than nine minutes and 19 seconds away from a vote. I'll have to adjourn the meeting at that, and we'll have to pick it up another day.

Thank you all for the discussion.

The meeting is adjourned.