moved:
Motion No. 10
That Bill C-46, in new Clause 21, be amended by replacing subclause 2 with the following:
"(2) The Minister shall, at least 60 days before the date on which the Minister fixes or increases a fee under sections 18, 19 or 20, cause to be published in the Canada Gazette and in no fewer than two leading newspapers in each province a notice clearly indicating a ) the products, services, rights, privileges, regulatory processes, approvals or use of facilities provided under these sections; and b ) the fees to be fixed or increased pursuant to these sections.''
Madam Speaker, the Official Opposition has a pretty straightforward position on clause 21(2). Our amendment is aimed at putting things right side up instead of upside down.
This clause of Bill C-46 found in the third report of the industry committee says in part (2) that, after setting fees under sections 18, 19 or 20, the minister has 30 days to publish these fees in the Canada Gazette so that Treasury Board can pass regulations to authorize them.
People are notified 30 days after the fees have been set. This is totally unacceptable. This is a devious way to increase taxes without notifying taxpayers or notifying them after the fact. Something is wrong here.
We also detect an attempt to give disproportionate powers to senior officials, since this clause enables them to set fees without the approval of the House of Commons. They will simply bypass those elected by their fellow citizens to manage the affairs of state.
This provision of the bill is clearly undemocratic, in our opinion, since fees can be set without the approval of lawmakers. The doors are wide open. That is why the Bloc Quebecois tabled this motion:
(2) The Minister shall, at least 60 days before the date on which the Minister fixes or increases a fee under sections 18, 19 or 20, cause to be published in the Canada Gazette-
Not 30 days after but 60 days before, so that we can respond and look into the matter.
Let us be serious. I am telling the Liberal government to stop using devious means to increase taxes and make all Canadians poorer.
The Bloc Quebecois is simply asking the federal government to stop managing the Quebec economy, either through fee-setting policies or regional development. That is why we oppose this amendment.
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