SFIS Committee Meeting

The Subcommittee on Fiscal Imbalance met in camera at 3:37 p.m. this day, in Room 208 West Block, the Chair, Yvan Loubier, presiding.

ORDERED, — That the Standing Committee on Finance establish a special subcommittee with the mandate to propose concrete solutions to correct the fiscal imbalance and that this subcommittee comprise at least one member of each political party, excluding the chair, and that it have an analyst and a clerk. This subcommittee will hold hearings on this matter. I twill table its report to the Standing Committee on Finance for adoption and the final report will be tabled in the House of Commons no later than June 2, 2005.

It was agreed, — That the subcommittee be composed of Rona Ambrose, Don H. Bell, Yvan Loubier, Guy Côté and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

It was agreed, — That Yvan Loubier be appointed Chair of the Subcommittee.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee be granted all of the powers of the Committee pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) except the power to report to the House.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee retain the services of one or more analyst[s] from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Subcommittee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That witnesses be given twenty (20) minutes for their opening statement; that , at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated up to ten (10) minutes for the first questioner of each party in the following order: Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party and Liberal Party; and that thereafter up to five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioners at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnessses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Subcommittee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Subcommittee documents [only when they exist in both official languages] and that no documents from a witness be distributed without the Clerk's approval.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Subcommittee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Subcommittee.

It was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Subcommittee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings.

It was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Subcommittee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Subcommittee.

It was agreed, — That, except for amendments to bills, forty-eight (48) hours’ notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Subcommittee; and That the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Subcommittee and circulated to members in both official languages..

It was agreed, — That the Sub-Committee travel in the following cities:

1. Friday, February 18: Halifax

2. Monday, March 7: Edmonton

3. Friday, March 11: Toronto

4. Monday, March 21: Regina

5. Monday, April 4: Winnipeg

6. Monday, April 11: Quebec

7. Monday, April 18: Victoria.

It was agreed, — That the seven travel budgets and the operational budget be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the budgets be submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday, February 2, 2005.

It was agreed, — That the first list of witnesses be adiopted.

It was agreed, — That the text for witnesses be adopted.

At 4:36 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.