FINA Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 7

Monday, November 8, 1999

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 1:22 p.m. this day, in Hawthorne Hall, Sheraton four Points Hotel, Toronto, the Chair, Maurizio Bevilacqua, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Carolyn Bennett, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Scott Brison, Roy Cullen, Ken Epp, Roger Gallaway, Albina Guarnieri and Paul Szabo.

Acting Members present: John McKay for Sophia Leung.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Odette Madore; Jean Soucy, Researchers and Marion Wrobel, Senior Analyst.

Witnesses: Roundtable I- From the Canadian Association for Community Living: Cheryl Gulliver, President; Connie Laurin-Bowie, Director, Policy and Programs. From the Alzheimer Society of Canada: Stephen E. Rudin, Executive Director; Dale Goldhawk, Board Member, Chair, Public Policy Committee. From the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care Network: Mary-Anne Bédard, Executive Director; Deirdra O'Sullivan. From the Citizens for Public Justice: Greg DeGroot-Maggetti, Socio-economic Concerns Coordinator; Gabrielle Mandell, National Social Action Committee; Wahida Valiante, Vice-President, Canadian Islamic Congress. As Individual: Alexandra Humphrey; Joseph Polito. From the Advisory Committee on Homeless and Socially Isolated Persons: Alison Kemper, Co-Chair; Sharole Gabriel.

Roundtable II - From the Chamber of Commerce of Kitchener-Waterloo: Linda Korgemets, C.A., Chairperson, Taxation Sub-Committee of the Federal and Provincial Affairs Committee. From the Direct Sellers Association: W. Jack Millar, Tax Counsel; Paul Thériault, President. From the Toronto Board of Trade: M. Elyse Allan, President and Chief Executive Officer; Terri Lohnes, Policy Advisor. From the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association: Michael Ferrabee, Vice-President, Government Affairs; Joyce Reynolds, Senior Director, Government Affairs. From the Construction Trades Council: John Cartwright, Business Manager. From the Canadian Pensioners Concerned: Ray MacLeod, Chair; Mae Harmon, Past President, Ontario Division; Ray MacLeod, Chair.

Roundtable III - From the Association of Canadian Pension Management: Gretchen Van Riesen, Chair, Advocacy & Government Relations Committee, Director, Pension and Benefits Policy, CIBC; Malcolm Hamilton, Board of Directors, Principal, William M. Mercer Ltd. From the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy: Dr. Stuart Smith, Chair; David McGuinty, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. From the Canadian Bankers' Association: Robert B. Wells, Chair, Financial Affairs Committee, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Bank of Montreal; Mark Weseluck, Vice-President, Banking Operations. From the Multi-Employer Benefit Plan Council of Canada: Mel Norton, Vice-President; Joan Tanaka, Vice-President. From the Investment Funds Institute of Canada: Peter Bowen, Chair, Taxation Steering Committee, Vice-President & Fund Treasurer, Fidelity Investments and 1998-1999 Chair; Jay Thomblison, Taxation Steering Committee, Manager Taxation, AGF Management Inc. and 1999-2000 Chair. From the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative: Dennis Howlett, Member, Steering Committee; Rev. David Pfrimmer, Chairperson, Commission on Justice and Peace, Canadian Council of Churches; Rev. David Pfrimmer, Chairperson, Commission on Justice and Peace, Canadian Council of Churches.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 83.1, the Committee resumed its Pre-Budget Consultations. (See Minutes of Proceedings, Tuesday, November 2, 1999, Meeting No. 2).

Cheryl Gulliver, Stephen Rudin, Dale Goldhawk, Mary-Anne Bédard, Greg De Groot-Maggetti, Wahida Valiante, Gabrielle Mandel, Alexandra Humphrey, Joseph Polito and Alison Kemper made statements and, with the other participants in roundtable I, answered questions.

At 3:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:13 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Linda Korgemets, Paul Thériault, Elyse Allan, Michael Ferabee, Joyce Reynolds, John Cartwright and Mae Harmon made statements and, with the other participants in roundtable II, answered questions.

At 4:12 p.m., Paul Szabo took the Chair

At 4:16 p.m., the Chair took the Chair

At 4:42 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:48 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Gretchen Van Riesen, Malcolm Hamilton, David McGuinty, Stuart Smith, Robert Wells, Peter Bower, David Pfrimmer and Dennis Howlett made statements and, with the other participants in round table III, answered questions.

At 6:18 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Pat Steenberg

Clerk of the Committee