Evidence of meeting #49 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was budget.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Adam Chambers Conservative Simcoe North, ON
Thank you very much.
We also have a second budget bill coming in the fall, so we could separate these measures, and consult on them over the summer to at least give us some additional time to hear from stakeholders.
Mr. Chair, you indulged me in the first round. I'll return my remaining time to you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Thank you, MP Chambers.
Those were great questions. We have many witnesses here today.
Our final questioner is from the Liberals.
I have MP Baker, for five minutes, please.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I would love to ask this of our representative from C.D. Howe. Do you support the government's strategic policy review to ensure that spending matches government priorities?
Associate Vice-President, Public Affairs, C.D. Howe Institute
Very much so, and this actually goes, again, to the question on processes, and what we're looking for in terms of outcomes. The spending review has to be very clear about the outcome that you're looking for, and this is going to be an issue in a number of different areas.
Let me give you an example that abuts this, which is on the commitment in the budget bill regarding the review of the SR and ED credit. This is the most fundamental piece of taxation, or subsidy, for SR and ED in Canada. If the outcome is about improving it and being clear about how we're looking for growth, we can make recommendations for that. A program review of looking at what the outcomes are and how we improve the process, or other things like bringing in an IP box, are the key things we should be looking at.
That should be the primary goal, not, for example, like the SR and ED review, reducing the amount that we're spending but focusing on getting the best outcomes that we can get.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Yes, that really makes a lot of sense. It's really about making sure that we're getting best value for our dollars. When we're putting money through a budget, we want the spending to deliver on the outcomes we want to see.
Thank you for that.
I would love to switch over to our representatives from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I want to ask you about the Canada recovery dividend, which would introduce a 15% tax on the 2021 taxable income of large banks.
Do you support this, and why?
Canadian General Vice-President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Yes, I would actually support that. I don't think it's something that will create an impact on jobs. When we're talking about income inequality, that's a perfect example of where we can get some money for our social programs and where we can fairly tax people who are, I would say, less in need than the middle-class citizens of our country. Yes, I would support that.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Great. Thank you for that.
Chair, how much time do I have left?
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Chartrand, maybe I will continue with you.
One of the things that many folks have been advocating for is dental care. It's something we've made a commitment to. Could you speak a bit more about the impact that would have on your members?
Canadian General Vice-President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Regarding the impact that it would have on our members, many of our members are already covered by dental plans in many of the collective agreements. For the ones who aren't, for the ones who don't have that coverage, it would mean less out-of-pocket money. It would mean, for them, that they would have coverage, and they would be able to have their teeth repaired.
It's a positive thing. Our members have the benefit of having that in their collective agreements. Many people in Canada don't, so I am all for a program that covers everybody in Canada who would benefit from such a provision, or such care, and not just the workers who are unionized.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I appreciate that. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca
Thank you, MP Baker.
I want to thank our excellent witnesses. I can't say it enough. We really appreciate that you accommodated us in very short order, as I said earlier, to come before our committee for this session.
On behalf of the members here at the committee, to the clerk, who I know has worked very hard to get you all here and answered many question, to the analyst and the interpreters, we really appreciate it.
We wish you all an excellent evening. The meeting is adjourned.