FINA Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Thursday, October 21, 1999

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 9:38 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block.

Members of the Committee present: Carolyn Bennett, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Scott Brison, Roy Cullen, Ken Epp, Albina Guarnieri, Richard Harris, Sophia Leung, Richard Marceau, The Hon. Lorne Nystrom, Gary Pillitteri, Monte Solberg and Paul Szabo.

Acting Members present: Daniel Turp for Yvan Loubier, Tony Valeri for Nick Discepola, Hec Clouthier for Nick Discepola.

Other Member present: Gar Knutson.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch: Odette Madore and Jean Soucy, Researchers; Marion Wrobel, Senior Analyst.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(1) and (2), election of a Chair and Vice-Chairs.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of a Chair.

Albina Guarnieri moved, -- That Maurizio Bevilacqua takes the Chair as Chair of the Committee.

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

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

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

Albina Guarnieri moved, -- That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, a representative of each of the Reform Party, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, do compose the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

Debate arose on the motion.

Monte Solberg, moved, -- That the motion be amended to delete the words "the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance".

After debate, the question was put on the amendment.

The result of the vote having been announced: YEAS: 6; NAYS 6;

The Chair voted in the negative.

The question being put on the main motion, it was, by a show of hands, agreed to: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 2.

Paul Szabo moved, – That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence when a 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 10 minutes after the designated start of the meeting, the meeting may proceed with the Chairman alone as the reduced quorum.

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

On motion of Paul Szabo, 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.

Paul Szabo moved, – 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.

Debate arose on the motion.

On motion of Richard Harris, the motion was amended to read, "That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses (individuals and/or representatives of organizations) who are invited to appear before the Committee, up to a maximum of two (2) representatives for any one organization.

After further debate, the main motion as amended, was agreed to.

Albina Guarnieri moved, – That witnesses be given up to 10 minutes for their opening statement and that during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated five (5) minutes for the first questioner of each party and that thereafter five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, at the discretion of the Chair.

Debate arose on the motion.

Ken Epp, moved, – That the motion be amended to read, "…questioning of witnesses, and that the order of questioning be as follows: there be allocated ten (10) minutes to the Reform Party, followed by five (5) minutes to the Bloc Québecois, followed by ten (10) minutes to the Liberal Party, followed by five (5) minutes to the Reform Party, followed by five (5) minutes to each of the New Democratic and Progressive Conservative Parties and that thereafter five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, at the discretion of the Chair."

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was by a show of hands, negatived: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 10.

And the question being put on the main motion, it was, by a show of hands, agreed to: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 1.

On motion of Carolyn Bennett, it was agreed, – That, when required, the Clerk be authorized to make the necessary arrangements for working meals for the Committee.

On motion of Sophia Leung, it was agreed, – That one copy of the transcript of in camera meetings be kept in the office of the clerk of the Committee for the purposes of consultation.

On motion of Albina Guarnieri, 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 Albina Guarnieri, it was agreed, – That the clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute public documents in the original language provided that the translation and the distribution of the translation follow as quickly as possible.

Monte Solberg moved, – That the Nineteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, presented during the First Session of the Thirty-Sixth Parliament, entitled For the Benefit of Our Children: Improving Tax Fairness, be tabled as the First Report of this Committee and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, a Government Response be requested.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was, by a show of hands, negatived: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 8

Paul Szabo moved, – That the Committee adopt the proposed workplan for the Pre-Budget Consultations.

Debate arose on the motion.

On motion of Lorne Nystrom, it was agreed, – That the motion be amended to provide for the addition of a hearing in Saskatchewan, should the numbers warrant.

And the question being put on the main motion, as amended, it was agreed to.

On motion of Paul Szabo, it was agreed, – That the Committee adopt the travel budget of $260,395.80 based on the proposed workplan.

On motion of Lorne Nystrom, it was agreed, – That, the Committee approve the proposed operational budget of $159,604.20 based on the proposed workplan.

It was agreed, – That the Committee invite the Minister of Finance to appear before the Committee to deliver his 1999 Economic and Fiscal Update at a time, date and location to be announced, pending the availability of the Minister.

On motion of Richard Marceau, it was agreed, – That the Standing Committee on Finance request the authorization of the House for the Committee to travel from place to place inside Canada during the month of November and December 1999 during its Pre-Budget Consultations and for the necessary staff accompany the Committee.

On motion of Monte Solberg, it was agreed, – That the Committee seek the authority of the House to televise any or all of its Pre-budget proceedings.

It was agreed, – That, notwithstanding Standing Order 83.1, the Committee requests authorization from the House to table its report on the Pre-Budget Consultations during the week ending December 10, 1999.

At 10:29 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Pat Steenberg

Clerk of the Committee