Finance Committee on Feb. 14th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We are moving now to the Bloc, with Monsieur Ste-Marie, for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to begin with a comment.

Earlier Mr. MacDonald asked the officials whether the provinces had taken part in the consultation or expressed any doubts or fears over the federal government's entry into of the property tax field. The officials noted that consultations had taken place and that the provinces had not been involved.

I'd like to remind the committee that it's unusual for the provinces to take part in those kinds of consultations where the provincial governments have questions, concerns, comments or opinions relating to federal government bills. Instead the general rule in a case such as this would be to write to the minister. Such letters are obviously confidential and the sender alone can make them public. So it's absolutely normal for the provinces not to take part in consultations respecting the introduction of this property tax. That's the way it's done and no one should draw any conclusions whatever.

In my remaining time, I'd like to ask two questions concerning part 1 of the bill, which would amend the employment insurance program.

What is the estimated number of seasonal workers who would benefit from this legislative amendment?

Does the deadline for adoption of this bill play a role in all this?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Which official would like to respond?

Monsieur Noël, please go ahead.

[Sylvain Noël, Manager, Policy Analysis and Initiatives, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development]

Good afternoon, my name is Sylvain Noël, and I work at the Department of Employment and Social Development.

According to our end‑of‑January estimate, approximately 17,300 individuals took advantage of the measure.

As to your second question, the royal assent date will have no effect on those who benefit from the measure. However, it will have an affect when they receive supplementary benefits since we can add weeks of supplementary benefits only once the bill has received royal assent.

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

That's very clear.

That was my final question.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, Mr. Ste-Marie.

We are moving to the NDP, and MP Blaikie, for two and a half minutes.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

My next questions are around the authorities for various kinds of health expenditures related to the pandemic. I'm curious to know, for example, in the case of money for a rapid test, is the idea that the federal government will be purchasing those rapid tests, and then distributing them to the provinces, or is this intended to be a direct transfer to the provinces, so that they can source and purchase their own rapid tests?

[Cameron MacDonald]

The intent here, because there is a global lack of supply for rapid tests, is for the federal government to procure, and distribute these tests to the provinces and territories. We have a small federal channel that we provide for businesses, and we also have a partnership with the Canadian Red Cross. The large majority of 85% or so are distributed to the provinces and territories, which will further redistribute them for their needs.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Is there any kind of existing reporting obligation when that money is spent, how it is spent, and what it received in return for the funds? Is that reported out publicly anywhere, and what kinds of timeline obligations are there for that kind of reporting?

[Cameron MacDonald]

We report on the number of tests we have provided through federal and provincial channels. We also provide information on what the provinces and territories provide back to us.

As I mentioned, in January we started changing that reporting framework to look at more areas of distribution. It is available on the canada.ca website. Different parts of it are refreshed on a weekly or biweekly basis depending on when we receive data from provinces and territories.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Okay, so that data is already collected, so if we want that tabled in Parliament at some kind of regular interval like a quarterly interval or something like that, it would be possible.

[Cameron MacDonald]

The level of tests that are disseminated and distributed to provinces and territories is available online. Yes.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We are now moving to the Conservatives, with Mr. McLean, for five minutes.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you again, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to go further along the lines of the housing taxes being proposed here.

Mr. Ives, you talked about the public consultations that were undertaken last summer regarding this tax measure. When were they undertaken last summer? Can you give me the exact months when they were held?

[Robert Ives]

The consultations took place from August 6 to September 17.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

What else was happening at that point in time, Mr. Ives?

[Robert Ives]

Many things were happening. I don't know if you're looking—

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Ives, you know what I'm speaking about. What was happening in a political sense in Canada at that point?

[Robert Ives]

I can't comment unless—

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

There was an election, Mr. Ives. Thank you. Oh, boy.

The second question I have is for Mr. King.

Mr. King, you spoke about part of the intent of this bill being to encourage people to put these properties on the market at 1% tax on the holding of this real estate.

One per cent tax on an asset class that has increased approximately 26% in the last year doesn't really seem like it's a disincentive to losing the property.

Would you say it's misguided to charge people 1% when they are going to be gaining 26%?

[Phil King]

Again, the primary purpose of any tax is to raise revenues. As for the rate, that's a government policy decision.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Okay, but was it misguided?

[Phil King]

I have no comment on that question.

[Julie Dzerowicz, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'm really troubled by the tone that my Conservative colleague is—