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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 133
Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:05 a.m. to 1:31 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Peter Fonseca, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Brett Capwell, Analyst
• Joëlle Malo, Analyst
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

Motion

Yvan Baker moved, — That in accordance with its motion adopted on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Chair be instructed to schedule meetings for the consideration of Bill C‑59, upon the bill’s referral to committee; that clause-by-clause consideration of the bill start no later than Tuesday, April 30, 2024, following a total of twenty hours of witness testimony;

That, for the purposes of this study, the Chair be empowered to set up extended meetings and request additional House resources, if necessary.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Daniel Blaikie moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “following a total of twenty hours of witness testimony” with the words “following no less than twenty hours of witness testimony, excluding appearances by the Minister and departmental officials, that witnesses appear as part of one-hour panels of four witnesses, with one witness selected from each recognized party”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Daniel Blaikie and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on division.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That in accordance with its motion adopted on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Chair be instructed to schedule meetings for the consideration of Bill C-59, upon the bill’s referral to committee; that clause-by-clause consideration of the bill start no later than Tuesday, April 30, 2024, following no less than twenty hours of witness testimony, excluding appearances by the Minister and departmental officials, that witnesses appear as part of one-hour panels of four witnesses, with one witness selected from each recognized party; and that, for the purposes of this study, the Chair be empowered to set up extended meetings and request additional House resources, if necessary.

It was agreed, — The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Daniel Blaikie moved on Thursday, February 29, 2024, which read as follows:

Given that the Canadian grocery sector made more than $6 billion in profit in 2023 and that millions of Canadians have reported food insecurity in the last year, the Standing Committee on Finance call on the government to immediately take action by implementing an excess profit tax on large grocery companies that would put money back in the people's pocket with a GST rebate and establish a National School Food Program, and that this motion be reported to the House. <

Debate arose thereon.

At 11:30 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:35 a.m., the sitting resumed.

• Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Department of Finance
• Chris Forbes, Deputy Minister
Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, March 18, 2024, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.

The Minister made a statement and, with Chris Forbes, answered questions.

At 12:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the committee commenced consideration of the Main Estimates 2024-25: Vote 1 and 5 under Canada Revenue Agency, Votes 1 and 5 under Department of Finance, Vote 1 under Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and Vote 1 under Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, referred to the committee on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

The Chair called Vote 1 under Department of Finance.

The Minister, with Chris Forbes, answered questions.

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the committee resume debate on the motion of Mr. Blaike moved on Thursday, February 29, 2024, which read as follows:

Given that the Canadian grocery sector made more than $6 billion in profit in 2023 and that millions of Canadians have reported food insecurity in the last year, the Standing Committee on Finance call on the government to immediately take action by implementing an excess profit tax on large grocery companies that would put money back in the people's pocket with a GST rebate and establish a National School Food Program, and that this motion be reported to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Gabriel Ste-Marie moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “National School Food Program” the following: “(with right of withdrawal and full compensation for Quebec)”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 1:22 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:27 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued on the amendment of Gabriel Ste-Marie.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gabriel Ste-Marie and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Adam Chambers, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Philip Lawrence, Marty Morantz, Gabriel Ste-Marie — 5;

NAYS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Julie Dzerowicz, Anna Gainey, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 6.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Julie Dzerowicz, Anna Gainey, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 7;

NAYS: Adam Chambers, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Philip Lawrence, Marty Morantz — 4.

At 1:31 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Alexandre Roger
Clerk of the committee