It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $1,250, for the study of Non-prime Lending and the Criminal Interest Rate, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $5,250, for the study of Subject matter of Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023, be adopted.

The witnesses answered questions.

Adam Chambers gave notice of the following motion:

That, Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and with regards to section 72 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, the committee undertake a study to review the Act and the current situation regarding money laundering and terrorist financing in Canada. That as part of the study the committee calls the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for no fewer than two hours, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada no fewer than two hours, the Minister of Public Safety no fewer than two hours, the Minister of National Revenue no fewer than two hours, department officials for the departments of Justice and Public Safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canadian Border Security Agency, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, the Cullen Commission Lead Counsel, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, CIBC, National Bank, the Ontario Securities Commission and other witnesses as submitted by the members of the committee. That the committee take no fewer than ten meetings for this study and that it report its findings to the House.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Yvan Baker gave notice of the following motion:

That in accordance with its motion adopted on January 30th, 2024, the Chair be instructed to schedule meetings for the consideration of Bill C-59, upon the bill’s referral to committee;

That clause-by-clause consideration of the bill start no later than April 30th, 2024, following a total of twenty hours of witness testimony;

That, for the purposes of this study, the Chair be empowered to set up extended meetings and request additional House resources, if necessary.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Jasraj Singh Hallan moved, — That, given that,

a)The carbon tax increases the cost of food;

b) Canadians are already set to spend an additional $700 on groceries this year;

c) Increased food costs are driving Canadians to food banks in record numbers;

d) There are now 8,000 members of the Dumpster Diving Network of Toronto Facebook group;

e) Increasing the carbon tax on April 1, 2024, will only make food prices even more expensive;

in order to help Canadians afford groceries and reduce reliance on food banks, the committee call on the Liberal Government to cancel the 23% carbon tax increase on April 1, 2024, and report this recommendation to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Adam Chambers, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Philip Lawrence, Marty Morantz — 4;

NAYS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Julie Dzerowicz, Irek Kusmierczyk, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 7.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

It was agreed, — That, in relation ot the Study on Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023, the committee members submit their preliminary list of witnesses to the office of the clerk on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.