Finance Committee on Dec. 10th, 2024

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

On what? There was no motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

This is on the question of privilege.

Is everybody in agreement?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Okay. Are we on green finance now?

[A voice]

We're on the 106(4) request.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We're following the notice of meeting. There was a motion to go in public, and in the sequence we were in, we addressed that motion and went in public. We were on green finance when we left, so we're on green finance at this time, members

On green finance, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the committee is—

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

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

What's the point of order?

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

You had consent from everybody around the table, it seemed, to go to the 106(4) request as opposed to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

No, that is not correct. What we voted on, MP Kelly—

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

I understand, but I also heard Ms. Dzerowicz say, if I understood her correctly, that we could go straight to debating the 106(4) request since we are in public and this is the place to have that debate. I think you had consensus to move to that.

If you did not, we can determine that, but it seemed to me that you did have consensus to move to the motion that Mr. Hallan was going to move. He was actually next on the speaking list at the time that you recognized Ms. Dzerowicz for a second time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

It was for the breach. That's when I recognized MP Dzerowicz.

I saw PS Bendayan's hand go up.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

I'm just seeking clarification, Mr. Chair, as to whether we are in public or in camera.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We are in public right now.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

It is my understanding that we cannot discuss the green finance report if we are in public.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

PS Bendayan, you are correct. It is unusual to discuss a draft report in public, but given the sequence we left on when we were in camera and going in public, where we are right now is green finance.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

That's great. It was just to clarify where we were, Chair. I see that my colleague Ms. Sophie Chatel is ready to discuss the report in question, if you don't mind.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, PS Bendayan.

I have MP Kelly.

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

I move that we proceed to the 106(4) request.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

All those in favour of moving to the 106(4) request?

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

We are moving to the 106(4) request.

I see MP Hallan, PS Bendayan and MP Ste-Marie.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm glad that we're on the 106(4) request.

I move:

That the Minister of Finance be invited to appear at committee for two hours by December 17, 2024, and should the Minister not appear in accordance with this motion, 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.

We know, through the PBO's report, that the finance minister has blown past her projected deficit of $40 billion. This was supposedly forced by the Prime Minister.

We also know that she indicated, in her own words, that she would be blowing past her own deficit. This is very concerning at a time when GDP per capita has been declining for six straight quarters, there are two million Canadians lined up at food banks every single month and Canadians are struggling to make ends meet today.

Canadians need to know the truth. It's very shocking that, for the first time that I know of, a fall economic statement and the public accounts will be released on the last sitting day of a session. It's concerning because it seems like the government might have something to hide. Canadians need to know how bad the deficit is and how much pain it's going to cause.

I'll leave it at that. I hope we can get to a vote quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Hallan.

I have PS Bendayan next, and then MP Ste-Marie and MP Davies.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the intervention of my colleague. I appreciate the sentiment with which he is bringing up the motion today.

I would note that it is December 10 and the motion is essentially requesting the minister to appear sometime during the next five days. As all members of this committee are well aware, we are planning to table publicly the fall economic statement on Monday, December 16, and I am very much looking forward to hearing the reaction and questions that folks around this table will have on that document.

I would like to ensure that people have those numbers before questioning the minister. I think that would make the appearance of the minister most productive. The minister has appeared prior to the fall economic statement, both before the Senate and before the industry committee, and as the record shows, there was not a lot we could delve into during those rounds of questioning because we did not yet have the numbers before us.

I would also note that we have always had the Minister of Finance appear for the economic statement's implementation bill, for the budget implementation bill or for a finance bill that comes to the finance committee. We have not had a bill come to the finance committee over the last two and a half months—since we started the fall sitting. For various reasons, including most notably that the House of Commons has been obstructed by the Conservative Party, we needed to move alternatively to get the GST bill through the House of Commons in an unusual way.

I would like to reaffirm the interest of the minister to appear at this committee. I have an amendment to propose to colleagues around the table, which I would like to circulate at this time. I will move it verbally and then circulate the paper copies so that all members may see it in writing.

I move:

That the Minister of Finance be invited to appear at committee for two hours at the next available opportunity, with the intent that this appearance take place before the House rises for the winter recess.

I would now invite debate on that amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, PS Bendayan.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

On a point of order, do we have a copy of the original motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

It just went out through email.