Finance Committee on June 10th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

That would be a fairly good point. We're a little past that. Good catch.

All right. I think we're agreed to that.

It's been moved. Is there any discussion? The only thing is that there is no theme. Pre-budget 2022, is that fine? I see heads nodding yes.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Now we'll go to Mr. Julian's motion. You all have a copy, but I understand there have been some discussions between Mr. Julian and others and a consensus on some changes to the motion.

I'll let Mr. Julian explain that.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

My thanks to Mr. Sorbara, Mr. Kelly and Mr. Ste-Marie.

Hopefully we'll go through this consensus document quickly.

Mr. Sorbara has recommended three friendly amendments. I'm going to incorporate them into the motion, because I accept those friendly amendments.

The motion would read as follows:

That the committee request the production of all memos, emails, documents, notes or other records from the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency relating to the KPMG offshore tax scheme since November 1, 2015, as well as the production of a copy of all communications between the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency and KPMG, or its affiliates, relating to KPMG's offshore tax scheme since November 1, 2015; that all documents issued pursuant to this motion be filed by department and provided to the members of the committee as soon as possible given the current pandemic, but in any event, no later than Friday July 2, 2021.

What is struck is the “office of the Minister of Finance and the office of the Minister of National Revenue”. What remains is the “Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency and KPMG”. The original date of June 18 has been changed to July 2.

I apologize for the poor reading. If you like, Mr. Chair, I can read it a second time more smoothly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Does anybody want to hear it again? It goes to the main sources, which are the departments and KPMG, and it changes a couple of dates. Is everybody okay with the reading?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Is there any further discussion?

Gabriel.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

With respect to the subcommittee report and the absence of the Minister of National Revenue, who was supposed to appear today, since we have few meetings left, I would like to know what my colleagues think about inviting her back. We could do so at the June 22 meeting, when the Minister of Finance is already scheduled to appear. Normally at the committee, ministers appear in the first hour and senior officials appear in the second hour.

Would it be possible for the Minister of Finance to appear for one hour and for the Minister of National Revenue to also appear for one hour to make up for her absence today?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Before I get to that point—we'll get into that discussion in a minute—I believe there is general agreement on Mr. Julian's motion.

You've moved it, Mr. Julian. I will call the vote.

(Motion agreed to)

On Mr. Ste-Marie's point on an invitation to the minister, is there any discussion on that?

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

I support Gabriel on that. I think that's reasonable. It would have been better for her to be here today, but we will take her on the 22nd, if that works better.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

What I'm hearing is that an invitation also be sent out, at a different hour from that of the Minister of Finance and officials.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

It's for the 22nd.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Yes, that's what I'm hearing.

Hearing no opposition to that, then we will send that invitation as well.

With that, we have a hard stop at 5:30 your time, and we're ahead of the game for once.

Thank you, all.

The meeting is adjourned.