Finance Committee on May 2nd, 2023

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mrs. Chatel.

I received an email this morning, before the meeting, advising the committee that the Minister of Finance would be available to appear on May 16, so next Tuesday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you for that, Clerk.

I'm not sure if all the members caught that. I think that MP Perkins was just putting on his interpretation, so could you repeat that for all the members?

[The Clerk]

I got an email just before the meeting saying that the Minister of Finance would be available to appear before the committee next Tuesday, May 16. I don't know yet if it's for one hour or two hours.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

That's an important point, because the request is for two hours. I think there is still a lot of discussion to be had about why two hours is vitally important. I believe that, for now, I would like to get myself put back on the list, but I'm going to yield to the next speaker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Perkins.

We just heard that the minister has emailed, and we're looking at the 16th when the minister would be available to appear before our committee.

I have MP Lawrence, MP Morantz, MP Dzerowicz and then Mr. Perkins again.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

If it's okay with the committee, I'd defer my slot to Marty.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Go ahead, MP Morantz.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to introduce a subamendment to Mr. Blaikie's amendment. I move the following:

That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “and that this appearance be scheduled on or before May 18th, 2023.” after the words "on the bill" with the following: on or before May 18th, 2023 provided that, if the Minister of Finance has not appeared by May 18, 2023 amendments to Bill C-47, notwithstanding subparagraph (b)(i), be submitted to the clerk in both official languages no later than 11:00 a.m. ET the business day following the Minister appearing at Finance committee for a duration of no less than 2 hours.

I have that motion translated as well. I can pass my copy up to you, if you like, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Morantz.

This is an subamendment to the amendment by MP Blaikie, and it's being distributed right now, so we'll just give a moment for all members to see it. It's been sent by email to members.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Chair, does that mean we will have a new speaking list?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Yes, we will for MP Morantz's subamendment.

MP Morantz, you have the floor at this time.

Do you want to speak to this, MP Morantz?

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have to say, Mr. Chair, that I had some glimmer of hope yesterday that perhaps this finding Freeland saga may have been resolved when the finance minister appeared in the House for the sixth time this year.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Go ahead on a point of order, Ms. Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you for sending the new amendments, but didn't we rule already on that last week, and it was defeated? We are back to this motion to invite the minister to come for two hours, and now we have a date when she is available on the 16th, so can we just adopt it, move on and do our job on the committee?

[An hon. members]

It's on the same point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I'm just going to confer with the clerk.

We're going to suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I'll just ask MP Morantz if he can read the subamendment to the amendment into the record again.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I was saying, I saw a glimmer of hope yesterday when the finance minister was in the House for the sixth time this year. That gives me some hope that our finding Freeland endeavour is well under way.

Having said that and having introduced the subamendment, I'd like to cede my time back to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I have a speaker's list. I have PS Beech and then MP Dzerowicz on next. Then it's MP Lawrence and then MP Perkins.

It's a new list.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Chair, I have a point of order.

My understanding is that when a subamendment is introduced, a new list is created.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

That was the new list. I just got it. I saw PS Beech put his hand up, so I have MP Morantz, PS Beech and then MP Dzerowicz.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

On a point of order, before the break I had told the clerk I had wanted to be on the list.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I did not see it. I did not recognize it.

PS Beech is up after MP—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Chair, could you just check with the clerk?