Evidence of meeting #131 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Rick Perkins
My understanding is that it was adjourned, but if there is progress on something else in between, my layman's version of the rules is that you can reintroduce a motion. Is that what you're proposing to do?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I propose to reintroduce Mr. Williams' motion.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I don't really need to discuss it.
Procedurally, we adjourned debate on this motion. Can it be brought back to the floor in the same meeting?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Rick Perkins
My understanding is yes, but I'll ask the clerk to comment.
12:15 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Miriam Burke
It can, as long as there's something in between.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Right now in Canada, the Bank of Canada outlined that we have a productivity crisis. We have less competition than we used to in Canada. Industries are becoming more concentrated, and the number of industries where this is happening is increasing. The standard of living for Canadians is declining with no end in sight, and we are on the cusp of the worst decline in living standards in 40 years.
Canada is experiencing one of the longest and deepest declines in real GDP per person since 1985. If per GDP does not recover in 2024, this period may be the longest and largest decline in per-person GDP over the last four decades. Two-thirds of Canadians believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction. According to Statistics Canada's analysis on small businesses, in the second quarter of the 2024, smaller businesses were more likely to have lower revenues in 2023 compared with 2022 and remain less optimistic than larger businesses.
Over the next three months, businesses expect obstacles such as rising inflation, the rising cost of inputs and rising interest rates. Small businesses are less likely to hire in the short term. Small businesses are more likely to expect a decrease in profitability, and 72.9% of businesses with one to nine employees do not plan to take on more debt. For 23.3% of those businesses, it is because they cannot take on any more debt.
With that, Mr. Chair, I think we should have a vote on this. Conservatives want to get our work done this summer. We've done some good work on the industry committee. Let's continue that. Canadians are expecting that from us, and I think our proposal is very reasonable.
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
I move that we vote on adjourning debate on the motion, Mr. Chair.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Rick Perkins
A dilatory motion is always in order. We have a motion to adjourn the debate again on this motion. We will go to a vote.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 4)
The motion to adjourn the debate passes.
Is there any other business? There's no other business. Seeing as we don't have any business set up for Wednesday, I'll have a discussion with the clerk, but I'm sure....
MP Masse.
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
If this is our last meeting, can we have the clerk acknowledge that, if a certain member has a child, we send a letter from the committee during the summertime to congratulate that member? A member has been running this committee, and you've done a good job in his absence, but the member has actually.... We have actually been well served over the decades I've been here on the industry committee by chairs, and it would be nice for the member to get that.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Rick Perkins
I would agree. We have been blessed in my short time here, coming up to three years, with one of the best chairs of any committee. Absolutely, a letter of congratulations to that individual, whomever they may be, is the least we can do.
MP Vis.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I'd like to extend the same courtesy to our wonderful analyst, who is also expecting a baby in July.
12:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Rick Perkins
She's still running marathons, which is incredible.
Is there any other business?
12:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
No.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative