Finance committee  May I describe what we did in preparation for this committee? When we were invited to appear, we went out to all our membership and got a very significant response. The summary of that response is under the survey results tab. The summary is supported by a very large document, wh

Finance committee  It's a difficult question. Overall, we frankly prefer less government intervention in normal times. Unfortunately, these aren't normal times.

Finance committee  All banks assess risk, and in these times, notwithstanding my previous comments, something has to be done to help us through the economic situation. We're looking at such things as increasing some of the guarantee programs, and that could be applicable to some body like BDC. BDC

Finance committee  Our focus has dealt mainly with the period of the funding of the solvency deficits of the defined benefit pension plans. There is currently an anomaly in that the liabilities are a long-term obligation, yet the shortfall that's created by the drop in the asset values is being....

Finance committee  If I could just add one brief point—

Finance committee  —there is only so much money to go around. This particular committee is concerned with credit availability. The plan sponsor is a corporation that has certain moneys to allocate. So what we are recommending is that the funding period for that liability be more equitable and be

Finance committee  Good morning, Mr. Chairman and committee members. Thank you for the opportunity to present, on behalf of Financial Executives International Canada, our recommendations for your study. FEI Canada is a voluntary membership association of more than 2,000 of Canada's most senior fin

Finance committee  Excuse me, it was provided this morning. I'm sorry if it wasn't distributed in advance, but it's--

Finance committee  Absolutely.

Finance committee  I'm sorry it wasn't distributed in advance, but there's a copy in each official language for your reading pleasure.

Finance committee  Thank you. Achieving our goals will foster strong Canadian global competitiveness, support expansion projects and help companies develop markets, enhance profits, boost capital productivity, and most importantly, create jobs. I'd like to begin by addressing the availability of

Finance committee  Thank you. I agree with Mr. Heady. A 2% variance in the consumption tax is not what's going to do it; it's the fact that the Canadian dollar has significantly surged from 67¢ up to par that has made the big difference. That really underlines the need for improved productivity in

Finance committee  Canadian corporations were less efficient before. That was not as obvious when the Canadian dollar was worth 67¢. Now that it's worth $1, things are much more expensive. Canadian companies are becoming far less competitive abroad. That's why it's very important to focus on Canadi

Finance committee  That's a good question.

Finance committee  That's a good question. There are many examples of companies taking drastic measures when they are in trouble, but those same companies don't tend to do anything when things are going well. When their products become less competitive internationally, they decide that it might be