Evidence of meeting #42 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was officials.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jennifer Miller  Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch, Department of Industry
John Millons  Director of Policy, Treasury Board Secretariat
Galen Countryman  Director General, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Philip Somogyvari  Director General, Strategic Policy and Planning, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Saajida Deen  Director General, Employment Program Policy and Design, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Anamika Mona Nandy  Director General, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employement Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Joel Reimer  Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Policy Support, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Rouba Dabboussy  Director General, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Kristen Underwood  Director General, Seniors and Pensions Policy Secretariat, Department of Employment and Social Development
Robert Sample  Director General, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Division, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Lynn McDonald  Director General, International Economic Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Curtis Bergeron  Acting Director, Regional Operations, Indigenous Services, Department of Indigenous Services
Steven Coté  Executive Director, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Martin Simard  Senior Director, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Policy, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch, Department of Industry
Jason Wood  Executive Director, Space Exploration Policy, Department of Industry
Zia Proulx  Director General, Strategic Policy, Analysis and Workplace Information Directorate, Department of Employment and Social Development

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

The court decision also indicated that new legislation would be developed to replace the act.

I am just wondering if any officials on the line would be able to enlighten the committee on what types of consultations are taking place and who is being consulted.

4:15 p.m.

Acting Director, Regional Operations, Indigenous Services, Department of Indigenous Services

Curtis Bergeron

I would start by saying that the Assembly of First Nations has been leading engagements with first nations since about 2018. That's been through a number of forums, including water symposiums and water summits with chiefs and council, water operators and water experts. That is one area.

The second area would be engagements through negotiations on the settlement agreement for the safe drinking water litigation.

Third, there were direct engagements around repeal just in March.

We're also working with the Assembly of First Nations moving forward on legislation, as the budget announced.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Just so that it's clear to me, the overarching organization you're working with is the Assembly of First Nations. Are you working with any of the Inuit organizations and Métis organizations, or is it just the Assembly of First Nations?

4:20 p.m.

Acting Director, Regional Operations, Indigenous Services, Department of Indigenous Services

Curtis Bergeron

This is largely a first nations-led engagement, yes.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

That's unfortunate, especially with what's happening in Nunavut right now with clean drinking water.

Has the development of the new legislation begun?

4:20 p.m.

Acting Director, Regional Operations, Indigenous Services, Department of Indigenous Services

Curtis Bergeron

Currently we're working on establishing a framework that will help inform legislation, and that's with the Assembly of First Nations.

4:20 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

We can expect this new legislation when?

4:20 p.m.

Acting Director, Regional Operations, Indigenous Services, Department of Indigenous Services

Curtis Bergeron

What I can say, as was pointed out through the settlement agreement, is that it commits Canada to developing and introducing replacement legislation in consultation with first nations by December 31 of this year.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

Thank you, MP Gazan. That is the time.

We are moving to the Conservatives for five minutes.

May 5th, 2022 / 4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, first of all, I'd like to give notice of motion for the following:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Finance undertake a study of the Canada Revenue Agency’s conduct regarding the decision on Advanced Pricing Arrangements and: That the Commission of the Canada Revenue Agency appear for two hours at the beginning of the study; That the Commission of the Canada Revenue Agency appear again for two hours at the end of the study; That the Canadians for Tax Fairness as well as business and academic experts be invited as witnesses; That whistleblowers be invited to testify in camera; That the committee allocate four (4) meetings to hear from witnesses, and; That the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

Thank you, MP Stewart.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

With respect to this motion, Mr. Chair, the clerk will be getting it as well as a translated version.

I just want to put the members of the committee on notice and give them time for their consideration.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

Thank you, MP Stewart.

I was thinking it was the same as MP Albas's motion, but it is a different motion. Yes, we have that.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Yes, it is a different motion.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

Now you still have—

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Hopefully the members have just been put on notice, and that will give you some time to think about it.

I do have some questions for the officials as well.

Do I have two more minutes?

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

You have three and a bit.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

To the officials, thanks for being here today as well.

How much money is government expecting to collect as a result of debt repayments on the initial CERB advance payment?

4:20 p.m.

Steven Coté Executive Director, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

As of right now on the advance payment activity, there have been over one million people who have repaid among the people who have been identified. I don't have the number of the exact amount of money that's expected to be fully paid, but there are notices of debt being sent out now to the remaining individuals.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

The government does not have an expectation or a target for what the amount is.

4:20 p.m.

Executive Director, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Steven Coté

There's a target number of people who have been identified as having advance payments that are outstanding. I believe there are 1.7 million in total, of which 715,000 have had notices sent out. However, for the total value, I don't have that number.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Can you get back to us on that with an answer?

4:20 p.m.

Executive Director, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Steven Coté

Yes, I can check into that for sure.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Jake Stewart Conservative Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB

Thank you.

How much money is the government expecting to collect as a result of debt repayments on the CESB payments for those deemed ineligible by the CRA?

4:20 p.m.

Executive Director, Employment Insurance, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Steven Coté

My CRA colleagues are with me here now and can correct me, but I can take a shot at that answer first, Mr. Chair, if it's okay.

That work is not under way as of yet. There is an integrity process that goes under way to determine ineligibility. That work has been delayed as a result of ongoing benefits delivery and the omicron variant, so that work has not been undertaken.