It was agreed, — That the committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jean‑Denis Garon moved on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jean‑Denis Garon moved on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, which read as follows:

That,

considering Standing Orders 83.1 of the House, which authorizes the Standing Committee on Finance to examine proposals concerning the government's budgetary policies as early as September in anticipation of the budget for the coming fiscal year;

considering that it is customary for the committee to conduct pre-budget studies and to table a report of its observations and recommendations to the House in accordance with the rules established by the Standing Orders;

considering that the fiscal year ends on March 31 of each year and that a new fiscal year begins on April 1 of each year;

considering that the last budget was tabled in April 2024 and that the new government has not tabled a budget for the year 2025;

considering that the government has announced that it will table its budget on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and that no public consultation has been held since the last election;

considering that the Minister of Finance has not yet announced whether his government will table a budget for the year 2026;

considering that, as a result, the committee is unable to carry out its parliamentary work and that citizens and organizations participating in this pre-budget exercise do not have the opportunity to comment on and make recommendations regarding the government's budgetary policies;

the committee request that the Minister of Finance appear no later than Wednesday, September 24, 2025, for at least two hours to answer the committee's questions so that the committee can then carry out its work properly and effectively and fulfill its mandate; and

That the committee report to the House.

The debate continued.

At 11:04 a.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 11:18 a.m., the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jean-Denis Garon.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jean-Denis Garon.

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

YEAS: Sandra Cobena, Jean-Denis Garon, Jasraj Hallan, Pat Kelly, Eric Lefebvre, Carlos Leitão, Kent MacDonald, Jake Sawatzky, Ryan Turnbull — 9;

NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That,

considering Standing Orders 83.1 of the House, which authorizes the Standing Committee on Finance to examine proposals concerning the government's budgetary policies as early as September in anticipation of the budget for the coming fiscal year;

considering that it is customary for the committee to conduct pre-budget studies and to table a report of its observations and recommendations to the House in accordance with the rules established by the Standing Orders;

considering that the fiscal year ends on March 31 of each year and that a new fiscal year begins on April 1 of each year;

considering that the last budget was tabled in April 2024 and that the new government has not tabled a budget for the year 2025;

considering that the government has announced that it will table its budget on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and that no public consultation has been held since the last election;

considering that the Minister of Finance has not yet announced whether his government will table a budget for the year 2026;

considering that, as a result, the committee is unable to carry out its parliamentary work and that citizens and organizations participating in this pre-budget exercise do not have the opportunity to comment on and make recommendations regarding the government's budgetary policies;

the committee request that the Minister of Finance appear no later than Monday, October 6, 2025, for at least two hours to answer the committee's questions so that the committee can then carry out its work properly and effectively and fulfill its mandate; and

That the committee report to the House.

Jasraj Hallan moved, — That the committee undertake a study of Bill C-4, an act to make life more affordable for Canadians, and for the purposes of this study:

(a) the committee invite the following witnesses to appear for one hour each on separate panels:

i. the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, as the sponsor of the bill;

ii. the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, in relation to Part 2; and

iii. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in relation to Part 3;

and that each minister appear for one hour, on separate panels, and be permitted to be accompanied by departmental staff;

(b) the chair be permitted to schedule a meeting for clause-by-clause consideration of the bill only after all of the ministers listed above have appeared as requested;

(c) the committee invite additional stakeholders it deems appropriate, and hold a minimum of two meetings to receive their testimony; and

(d) immediately following the conclusion of the study, and once the bill has been reported back to the House, the committee undertake a subsequent study on the use of offshore tax havens, given that Canada’s weak rules on offshore subsidiaries, tax treaties, and limited enforcement by the Canada Revenue Agency have made our country both a conduit and a destination for tax avoidance, costing taxpayers billions of dollars in lost revenue each year and inviting white-collar crime into Canada; and that, for the purposes of this study, the committee hold no fewer than six meetings and invite the following witnesses:

1. officials from the Department of Finance;
2. officials from the Canada Revenue Agency;
3. the Parliamentary Budget Officer;
4. representatives from law enforcement agencies with expertise in financial crimes;
5. tax policy experts; and
6. any other witnesses the committee deems relevant.

Debate arose thereon.

At 12:29 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:39 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jasraj Hallan.

At 12:46 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 12:49 p.m., the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jasraj Hallan.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Jasraj Hallan, which read as follows:

(a) the committee invite the following witnesses to appear for one hour each on separate panels:

i. the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, as the sponsor of the bill;

ii. the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, in relation to Part 2; and

iii. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in relation to Part 3;

and that each minister appear for one hour, on separate panels, and be permitted to be accompanied by departmental staff;

(b) the chair be permitted to schedule a meeting for clause-by-clause consideration of the bill only after all of the ministers listed above have appeared as requested;

(c) the committee invite additional stakeholders it deems appropriate, and hold a minimum of two meetings to receive their testimony; and

(d) concurrently with this study, the committee undertake a study on the use of offshore tax havens, given that Canada’s weak rules on offshore subsidiaries, tax treaties, and limited enforcement by the Canada Revenue Agency have made our country both a conduit and a destination for tax avoidance, costing taxpayers billions of dollars in lost revenue each year and inviting white-collar crime into Canada; and that, for the purposes of this study, the committee hold no fewer than six meetings and invite the following witnesses:

1. officials from the Department of Finance;
2. officials from the Canada Revenue Agency;
3. the Parliamentary Budget Officer;
4. representatives from law enforcement agencies with expertise in financial crimes;
5. tax policy experts; and
6. any other witnesses the committee deems relevant.

The debate continued.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

(a) the committee invite the following witnesses to appear for one hour each on separate panels:

i. the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, as the sponsor of the bill;

ii. the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, in relation to Part 2; and

iii. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in relation to Part 3;

and that each minister appear for one hour, on separate panels, and be permitted to be accompanied by departmental staff;

(b) the chair be permitted to schedule a meeting for clause-by-clause consideration of the bill only after all of the ministers listed above have appeared as requested;

(c) the committee invite additional stakeholders it deems appropriate, and hold a minimum of two meetings to receive their testimony; and

(d) concurrently with this study, the committee undertake a study on the use of offshore tax havens, given that Canada’s offshore subsidiaries, tax treaties, and limited enforcement by the Canada Revenue Agency have made our country both a conduit and a destination for tax avoidance, costing taxpayers billions of dollars in lost revenue each year; and that, for the purposes of this study, the committee hold no fewer than six meetings and invite the following witnesses:

1. officials from the Department of Finance;
2. officials from the Canada Revenue Agency;
3. the Parliamentary Budget Officer;
4. representatives from law enforcement agencies with expertise in financial crimes;
5. tax policy experts; and
6. any other witnesses the committee deems relevant.