Evidence of meeting #9 for Finance in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mclean.
A video is available from Parliament.
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
I suppose we'll have a vote on whether the bill as a whole passes. Is that correct?
Conservative
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The amendment I'm proposing is that the extension not be for two years. We're extending the program here by six months. I believe the previous deadline was March 2024. The benefits are being extended in this program by six to eight months, depending on how much we're using the extra two months in there as well.
Moving the eligibility or the program availability itself of the government consolidated revenue fund by two years because you're extending the program by seven months is an overstep.
I am proposing that we change “March 31, 2026” to “September 30, 2024”.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Can this be distributed in writing?
I guess you have it, and that's enough.
My other question, Mr. Chair, is whether this would require royal recommendation. Is it admissible?
Legislative Clerk
I don't believe it would, because it just reduces the amount of money coming out of the CRF.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I have a question for Mr. McLean, a point of clarification.
Could you articulate again for me why you're proposing the change?
Conservative
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
It is a pool of funds that will expire, as far as any applicability for it goes, on March 31, 2024. We're extending these benefits by approximately seven months, and therefore extending the availability of this pool of funds by two years seems like an overstep. I would propose we extend that to September 30, 2024.
Conservative
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Why are we adding two years to the availability of a fund when we're extending the program by seven months?
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
You're answering my question with a question, which may be a fair question, but I'm genuinely trying to understand how it's an overstep. I'm not trying to put you on the spot.
Conservative
Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Maybe what we have here is failure to communicate.
We're extending a program by seven months. I don't see the reason for extending the availability of that program for two years. Is that clarification?
The limit for this program is July 2022. To settle the accounts by September 30, 2024 seems like enough time to me. It is an extension from the current limit.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I don't know if this is a question I can ask of the officials, Chair, but my question for our officials would be this: What would be the implications, positive or negative, of adopting Mr. McLean's suggestion?
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
On a point of order, I'm not sure the officials are able to answer that, because it wasn't an amendment that was submitted in advance. We had this conversation earlier. The officials can only give advice on something that was submitted in writing in advance. I'm sure Mr. McGowan has no opinion on the matter.
We might be better served by just advancing our own discussion.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I don't understand. I don't know if Mr. Blaikie is out of order here, Chair. I'm asking a question of the officials. I think Mr. Blaikie is answering my question. My question is for the officials.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Blaikie, I don't need you to tell me that they can't answer it. They'll tell me themselves if they can't answer it.
