Finance Committee on Dec. 10th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you for that, MP Dzerowicz.

I have MP Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I know that the minister last appeared before this committee in May, because I was appointed in April. She came in May, and she hasn't been here since. I know that she has not appeared since the motion was passed on September 26, so that's a couple of months.

I think we all are in agreement with this, and I'll speak to what I think. I want the Minister of Finance to appear before this committee on Tuesday of next week. That's what I want, and I think that's what my colleagues want. The question is this: How do we compel that? The issue with the Conservatives' motion is that it doesn't get us there. It says, “That the Minister of Finance be invited to appear at committee for two hours by December 17, 2024,” which is next Tuesday, “and should the Minister not appear in accordance with this motion,” which we'll only know on December 17, “the chair be instructed to report to the House the Committee’s recommendation that it be empowered to order her attendance for two hours at a date and time the Committee fixes.”

It has to go to the House, and then the House has to deal with it. The House then, after debate and assuming the House agrees, which would provide the House with the authority, has to issue the order for the finance minister to appear. That's what happened at the industry committee yesterday. It wasn't from the industry committee; it was from the House.

No matter what we do today, whether we vote for the Conservative motion or vote for the Liberal amendment, we cannot compel the finance minister to come before next Tuesday. I will support Madame Bendayan's amendment because the spirit of it is that we invite her to appear “at the next available opportunity, with the intent that this appearance take place before the House rises”. However, I will put down my marker now. If the minister does not come before this committee on Tuesday, I will vote for the strongest possible motion, when we come back, to order her to come before the committee. I hope it won't be necessary for the committee to go to the House so the House can order the finance minister to do her duty and appear before the finance committee. She should not have to be ordered to do that. That's her job.

Voting for either of the motions won't matter, so I'd rather get this motion passed today. If we don't pass it today, then there's no chance of the minister coming before that date anyway, I think. I support Madame Bendayan's motion. Let's get an invitation to the minister. The last thing I'll say is that there will be a heavy political price to pay for the minister if she chooses to skip this committee before Tuesday and not come and hold herself accountable.

Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Davies.

I think that's it for the speaking order.

Members, we're voting on the amendment of PS Bendayan.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

Okay, so we're on debate on the motion as amended.

Go ahead, MP Chambers.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

We have an amendment: that she appear on December 17. It has to be after the fall economic statement, as the parliamentary secretary suggested.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

The amendment that I circulated you have in front of you. I moved no other amendment.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Okay, that's fine.

I withdraw it, Peter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

It's withdrawn. Okay.

Are there any others? No.

We will vote on the motion as amended.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

That's excellent.

Go ahead, MP Chambers.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I want to confirm, just to clear the air, that the appearance by the minister on December 7, 2021, was in relation to Bill C-2. It was a twofer, if you want to call it that. It was for legislation. She answered questions about housing, as she is very capable of doing. She still only comes to speak about her legislation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

All right, MP Chambers.

Is there anyone else? Are we good? Okay.

Members, we have a budget that we need to approve. It was circulated. Is everything good there? I have to take it to SBLI tomorrow.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you. That's approved.

Now we're adjourned.