FINA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Brian Pallister, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 4:46 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera for the consideration of matters related to Committee Business.

The Chair presented the Third Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Monday June 5, 2006, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That during its Pre-Budget Consultations the Committee travel across Canada to hold public hearings in the following locations:

Whitehorse, Vancouver, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Portage la Prairie;

St. John’s, Charlottetown, Quebec City, Toronto; and

Iqaluit.

2. That the theme and questions for the Pre-Budget Consultations be as follows:

POSITIONING CANADA FOR THE FUTURE: MEASURES TO ENSURE OUR PLACE IN A COMPETITIVE WORLD

As legislators think about the future of the nation, one focus is the decisions that must be taken today to ensure that all citizens and all businesses can prosper in the future, a future that is characterized by rapid technological change, the emergence of new trading partners and many other factors that, in many respects, we cannot control. As a small open economy that depends significantly on other countries for our economic health and prosperity, it is important that actions be taken to ensure that:

• our citizens are healthy, have the proper skills and are presented with appropriate incentives to work and to save;

• our businesses have a competitive tax regime, can access markets for their goods and services, and benefit from secure and appropriately priced labour, capital and other production inputs; and

• our nation has the sound infrastructure that is required by citizens who are seeking a high quality of life and businesses that are seeking the ability to move their goods to market, and to provide their services, in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

If Canada is to have a meaningful place in the world of the future, then citizens and businesses – and, by extension, the Canadian economy – must prosper. We must prosper recognizing the constraints we face, not the least of which is an uncertain – and rapidly changing – future. We must be prepared, and we must be proactive. We must constantly strive to adopt the latest technology, to ensure we have the needed skills, to seize market opportunities, to make certain that our tax regimes enable us to attract workers and foreign investment, and to maximize our potential as a nation. And decisions must be taken today to ensure that we are able to do all of those things tomorrow.

1. What specific federal tax and/or program spending measures should be implemented in the upcoming budget to ensure that our citizens are healthy, have the right skills, etc. for their own benefit and for the benefit of their employers?

2. What specific federal tax and/or program spending measures should be implemented in the upcoming budget to ensure that our businesses are competitive?

3. What specific federal tax and/or program spending measures should be implemented to ensure that our nation has the infrastructure required by citizens and businesses?

4. What specific federal actions should be taken to ensure that the government is able to afford the tax and/or spending measures needed to ensure that Canada’s citizens and businesses can prosper in the world of the future?

Respectfully submitted,

BRIAN PALLISTER

Chair

It was agreed, — That the Report be amended by striking out the word "Charlottetown" and substituting the word "Halifax".

It was agreed, — That the Report be amended by striking out the word "Iqaluit" .

It was agreed, — That the Report be amended by adding the following after "Canada's citizens and businesses can prosper in the world of the future?": 3. That the Standing Committee on Finance strike a sub-committee to investigate options and new technologies available to ensure effective and comprehensive e-consultation for the subsequent round of pre-budget consultations.

It was agreed, — That the Third Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure, as amended, be concurred in.

It was agreed, — That, during its consideration of matters pursuant to Standing Order 83.1, the Chair seek the permission of the House to adjourn from place to place within Canada and to permit the broadcasting of its proceedings thereon, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Western travel budget in the amount of $ 221,311 be adopted and that the Chair seek the necessary funds from the Liaison Committee at the earliest opportunity.

It was agreed, — That the Eastern travel budget in the amount of $ 142,765 be adopted and that the Chair seek the necessary funds from the Liaison Committee at the earliest oportunity.

It was agreed, — That the operational budget in the amount of $ 42,350 be adopted and that the Chair seek the necessary funds from the Liaison Committee at the earliest opportunity.

At 5:26 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.