FINA Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 1

Monday, October 21, 2002

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block.

Members of the Committee present: Sue Barnes, Roy Cullen, Richard Harris, The Honourable Maria Minna, Charlie Penson, Pauline Picard, Gary Pillitteri, Bryon Wilfert.

Acting Members present: Marcel Proulx for Nick Discepola, Joe Jordan for Albina Guarnieri, Reg Alcock for Sophia Leung, Stan Dromisky for Joe McGuire, John Maloney for Tony Valeri, Ken Epp for Rick Casson, Dale Johnston for Rahim Jaffer, Richard Marceau for Pierre Paquette.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: June Dewetering, Acting Principal. Blayne Haggart, Marc-André Pigeon, Research Officers.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(1) and (2), the Committee move to elect the Chair and Vice-Chairs

Moved by Gary Pillitteri, - That Sue Barnes be elected Chair of this Committee.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.

Accordingly, Sue Barnes was declared duly elected Chair of the Committee and took the chair.

On motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed, - That Nick Discepola be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee in absentia.

On motion of Charlie Penson, it was agreed, - That Richard Harris be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On a motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed, - That the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary and one member from each of the other parties.

On motion of Stan Dromisky, it was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and publish evidence when quorum is not present provided that the Chair and at least two (2) Members are present, including a Member of the Opposition and provided that if no Member of the Opposition is present ten (10) minutes after the designated start of the meeting, the meeting may proceed.

On motion of Ken Epp, it was agreed, - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Charlie Penson, it was agreed, - That witnesses be given up to ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement.

- That during the questioning witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: On the first round of questioning, up to ten (10) minutes for the first question of each party. On the following rounds of questioning, up to five (5) minutes for each subsequent questioner, at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Richard Denis, it was agreed, - That the Committee will only go into in camera meetings following a majority vote of the Committee as a whole.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was defeated by a show of hands.

On motion of Marcel Proulx, it was agreed, - That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of John Maloney, it was agreed, - That, pursuant to Standing Order 111(4), whenever an Order in Council for appointment or a certificate of nomination for appointment is referred to the Committee, the Clerk shall obtain and circulate to each member of the Committee a copy of the curriculum vitae of each appointee/nominee.

On motion of Pauline Picard, it was agreed, - That the clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents in the original language provided that the translation and the distribution of the translation follow as quickly as possible.

Maria Minna moved the following amendment to delete the words after “provided” and replace them by the following - That the Clerk and the Chair would encourage the witnesses to submit their brief in both official languages, if at all possible, and would ask them if submitted in one language to submit it as earliest as possible to proceed to the translation.

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to.

The question being put on the motion as amended, it was agreed.

On motion of Roy Cullen, it was agreed, - That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee, up to a maximum of two (2) representatives for any one organization.

On motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed, - That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements for working meals for the Committee (and its Sub-Committees).

On motion of Reg Alcock, it was agreed, - That, when a minister of the Crown or the Governor of the Bank of Canada is to appear before the Committee, the proceedings be televised.

On motion of Bryon Wilfert, it was agreed, - That 48 hours notice be given to the Members of the Committee before any new item of business is considered by the Committee and, that the notice be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to all Members in both official languages. Upon receipt of the notice, the Clerk will put the new item of business on the agenda of the next Committee meeting.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of the Committee business.

On motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed to invite the Governor of the Bank of Canada on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 at 3:30 p.m.

On motion of Bryon Wilfert, it was agreed to invite the Minister of Finance on his Economic and Fiscal Update on Wednesday, October 30^th at 1:00 p.m. in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

It was agreed, - That the Committee adopt the list of the proposed witnesses.

On motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed, - That the Committee adopt the travel budget of $280, 800.00 for the Pre-Budget Discussion and that the Chair submit the said budget to the Board of the Internal Economy.

It was agreed, - That the Committee, on the Pre-Budget Discussion, will travel to Halifax on October 30, to hold public hearings in the morning and to hold a meeting with the Minister of Finance in the afternoon.

On motion of Gary Pillitteri, it was agreed, - That on the Pre-Budget Discussion the Committee will divide in two during the week of November 4^th.

That the sub-group I will travel to Vancouver (2 days) Calgary (1 day), Saskatoon (1day) and Winnipeg (1day).

That the sub-group II will travel to Toronto (3 days) and to Montreal (2 days).

 At 4:45 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Richard Dupuis / Lisa Chartier-Derouin

Clerks of the Committee