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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 38
Monday, October 24, 2022, 7:01 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Sean Casey, Chair (Liberal)

• Jean-Denis Garon for Luc Thériault (Bloc Québécois)
• Jenny Kwan for Don Davies (NDP)
• Martin Shields for Matt Jeneroux (Conservative)
House of Commons
• Philippe Méla, Legislative Clerk
• Marie-Hélène Sauvé, Legislative Clerk
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Nadine Leblanc, Senior Vice-President, Policy
• Patricia Roset-Zuppa, Vice-President, Policy Development
• Louise Michel, Director, Legal Services
Canada Revenue Agency
• Gillian Pranke, Assistant Commissioner, Assessment, Benefit and Service Branch
• Heather Daniels, Director General, Benefit Programs Directorate, Assessment, Benefit and Service Branch
Department of Health
• Lynne Tomson, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, October 19, 2022 and the motion adopted by the House on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing.

The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 (short title) was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

On Clause 2,

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 1 to line 2 on page 2 with the following:

“dren under 12 years old;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jean-Denis Garon and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 19 on page 3 the following:

“Opting-out

2.1 A province that has a program with objectives similar to those of the dental benefit program established by this Act may, at any time, choose to opt out of the federal program, in which case it is to receive a financial contribution equivalent to what it would have received had it not opted out.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was contrary to the principle of the Bill, as provided on page 770 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition, and because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 772 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition.

Whereupon, Jean-Denis Garon appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Clause 2 carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

At 8:15 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 8:26 p.m., the sitting resumed.

On Clause 3,

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 3, be amended

(a) by deleting line 36 on page 17 to line 25 on page 18.

(b) by replacing line 27 on page 18 with the following:

“justed income in paragraph (1)(e), if a person”

(c) by replacing line 34 on page 18 with the following:

“justed income in paragraph (1)(e), if a person”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 772 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition.

Whereupon, Jean-Denis Garon appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 1.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 6 on page 18 with the following:

“vices, only 90% of the payment is to be taken into account”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 772 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition.

Whereupon, Jenny Kwan appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 7.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 12 to 18 on page 18 with the following:

“purposes of paragraph (1)(g) is the actual total amount of rent paid in 2022 by the applicant.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 772 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition.

Whereupon, Jenny Kwan appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing line 13 on page 19 with the following:

“later than the 120th day after the reference day.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 3.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That Bill C-31, in Clause 3, be amended by adding after line 19 on page 19 the following:

“6.1 Despite any other provision of this Act, the Governor in Council may make regulations authorizing the Minister to pay a rental housing benefit of $500 to a person in respect of a subsequent year and, in such a case, providing for any modifications to the provisions of this Act that the circumstances require.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 770 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition, and because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 772 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Third Edition.

Whereupon, Jenny Kwan appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 1.

After debate, Clause 3, as amended, carried on division.

Clause 4 carried on division.

Clause 5 carried on division.

Clause 6 carried on division.

Clause 7 carried on division.

Clause 1, Short Title, carried on division.

The Title carried on division.

The Bill, as amended, was adopted on division.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-31, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage.

At 9:55 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Patrick Williams
Clerk of the committee