Finance Committee on May 2nd, 2023

Evidence of meeting #87 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ministers.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Subject matter of Bill C-47, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023

Committee Business

Also speaking

Graeme Hamilton Director General, Traveller, Commercial and Trade Policy, Canada Border Services Agency

Nicole Thomas Executive Director, Costing, Charging and Transfer Payments, Treasury Board Secretariat

Lindy VanAmburg Director General, Policy and Programs, Dental Care Task Force, Department of Health

Neil Leblanc Director, Canada Pension Plan Policy and Legislation, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Colin Stacey Director General, Air Policy, Department of Transport

Joël Girouard Senior Privy Council Officer, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Benoit Cadieux Director, Policy Analysis and Initiatives, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Tamara Rudge Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Department of Transport

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

Robert Lalonde Director, Individual Payments and On-Demand Services, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development

Blair Brimmell Head of Section, Climate and Security, Security and Defence Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Marcel Turcot Director General, Policy, Strategy and Performance, National Research Council of Canada

Paola Mellow Executive Director, Low Carbon Fuels Division, Department of the Environment

David Chan Acting Director, Asylum Policy, Performance and Governance Division, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Marie-Josée Langlois Director General, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Nicole Girard Director General, Citizenship Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Michelle Mascoll Director General, Resettlement Policy Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Vincent Millette Director, National Air Services Policy, Department of Transport

Rachel Pereira Director, Democratic Institutions, Privy Council Office

Samir Chhabra Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch, Department of Industry

Alexandre Sacha) Vassiliev (Committee Clerk

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Alexandre Roger

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.

Liberal

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.

Conservative

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.

Liberal

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.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

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

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

Go ahead, MP Morantz.

Conservative

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.

Liberal

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.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

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

Liberal

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?

Conservative

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.

Liberal

Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

May 4th, 2023 / 8:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

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

Liberal

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.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

I'm just going to confer with the clerk.

We're going to suspend.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

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

Conservative

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—

Liberal

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.

Conservative

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.

Liberal

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.

Conservative

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.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Peter Fonseca

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

PS Beech is up after MP—

Conservative

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

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