FINA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 9:03 a.m. this day, in Room 308 West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

Diane St-Jacques moved, — That Nick Discepola be elected Chair of the Committee.

Alex Shepherd moved, — That Roy Cullen be elected Chair of the Committee.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), the election was conducted by secret ballot.

The ballots having been counted, Roy Cullen was declared duly elected Chair.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Rahim Jaffer, it was agreed, — That Monte Solberg be elected as Opposition Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Bernard Patry moved, — That Nick Discepola be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Roy Cullen moved, — That Sophia Leung be elected as Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Sophia Leung declined.

Nick Discepola was declared duly elected Government Vice-Chair of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Government Vice-Chair, the Parliamentary Secretary, one Liberal Member, one Conservative member, one Bloc Québécois Member and one New Democratic Party Member .

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least two (2) members are present including a member of the opposition.

It was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That witnesses be given 10 minutes for their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated 10 minutes for the first questioner of each party; and that thereafter 5 minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner .

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.

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.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to the members of the Committee in the language received, and to ensure that such documents are translated and distributed as promptly as possible.

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 Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

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.

It was agreed, — That unless there is unanimous consent of the Members of the Committee, forty-eight (48) hours notice must be given to members of the Committee before any new item of business is considered by the Committee and, that the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to all members in both official language. Upon receipt of the notice, the clerk will put the motion on the agenda of the committee’s next meeting.

1) That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a televised meeting of the Committee.

2) That whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a televised meeting of the Committee

That the Standing Committee on Finance request an order of the House authorizing the division of Bill C-18, an Act respecting equalization and authorizing the Minister of Finance to make certain payments related to health, so that any matter concerning the transfer of an additional $2 billion to the provinces as part of the Canada Health and Social Transfer can be treated in another bill

At 9:22 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.