FINA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Finance met in a televised session at 11:32 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Rob Merrifield, presiding.

Dean Del Mastro moved, — That the Committee adopt the following report and that the Chair be instructed to present it to the House at the earliest opportunity:

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has noted that discussions of carbon taxes cause great nervousness among entrepreneurs, particularly at a time where firms are struggling to adapt to the pressure of rising energy and other input costs.

The Committee therefore recommends that the government reject any plans for additional fuel or carbon taxes." .

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Dean Del Mastro, Rick Dykstra, Ted Menzies, Mike Wallace — 4; NAYS: Paul Crête, Martha Hall Findlay, John McKay, Massimo Pacetti, Louis Plamondon, Garth Turner — 6.

Mike Wallace moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 18, that the vote of June 4 during the 47th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, on an extension of Bill C-219 be rescinded.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 6.

At 12:15 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:45 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Mike Wallace moved, — That the committee, while generally supportive of the intent of Bill C-219 and it feels that those who provide volunteer emergency services should be recognized by the federal government through the tax system, has considered Bill C-219, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency service) and pursuant to Standing Order 97.(1) agree on Thursday, June 12, 2008 to recommend to the House of Commons not to proceed further with the bill as there are unresolved questions similar to those raised in the 19th report of the finance committee in 2005 on Bill C-273.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 6.

Hon. Wayne Easter made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

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

The Chair called Clause 1.

On Clause 1,

(a) by replacing lines 6 to 8 on page 1 with the following:

“the end of paragraph (y) and by adding the following after paragraph (z):

(z.1) $1,000, if the taxpayer performed in the”

(b) by replacing line 14 on page 1 with the following:

“(z.2) $2,000, if the taxpayer performed in the”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Massimo Pacetti and it was agreed to on division.

Clause 1, as amended, carried on division.

On Clause 2,

(a) by replacing lines 21 to 23 on page 1 with the following:

“following after section 60.03:

60.04 (1) In order to claim a deduction under paragraph 60(z.1), a taxpayer shall provide ”

(b) by replacing line 2 on page 2 with the following:

“paragraph 60(z.2), a taxpayer shall provide a”

(c) by replacing lines 12 and 13 on page 2 with the following:

“60.05 A taxpayer is not entitled to claim a deduction under paragraph 60(z.1) or (z.2) for a”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Massimo Pacetti and it was agreed to on division.

Clause 2, as amended, carried on division.

The Title carried on division.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

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

ORDERED, — That Bill C-219, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 12:59 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.