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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 22

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

The Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 308 West Block, the Chair, Brent St. Denis, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Michael Chong, Hon. Denis Coderre, Paul Crête, Brian Masse, Lynn Myers, Hon. Jerry Pickard, Andy Savoy, Werner Schmidt, Brent St. Denis and Bradley R. Trost.

Acting Members present: Christiane Gagnon for Serge Cardin, Sébastien Gagnon for Serge Cardin, Pablo Rodriguez for Andy Savoy, David Smith for Lynn Myers and Peter Van Loan for John Duncan.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Andrew Kitching, Analyst ; Dan Shaw, Analyst ; Jennifer Wispinski, Analyst . House of Commons: Joann Garbig, Legislative Clerk ; Jean-François Lafleur, Legislative Clerk.

Appearing: Hon. Jacques Saada, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

Witnesses: As Individuals: Louis Jolin, Professor, École des sciences de la gestion, Université du Québec à Montréal; Warren M. Grover, Partner Emeritus, Blake, Cassels and Graydon. Canadian Society of Association Executives: David Skinner, Chair, Government Relations Committee and Board Member; President, Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association of Canada; Henry Walthert, Executive Director, Canadian Institute of Treated Wood; Bob Hamp, Director, Communications and Research. Canadian Red Cross Society: Alan Reid, Special Legal Adviser; Johanne C. Bray, General Counsel. Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec: Michelle d'Auray, Deputy Minister; Serge Pépin, Director and Counsel, Justice Canada.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, November 23, 2004, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-21, An Act respecting not-for-profit corporations and other corporations without share capital.

Louis Jolin, Warren Grover, David Skinner, and Alan Reid made statements and, with Johanne Bray, answered questions.

At 5:29 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:14 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, December 7, 2004, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-9, An Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

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

The Minister answered questions.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

By unanimous consent, Clause 2 was allowed to stand.

Clause 3 carried on division.

Clause 4 carried on division.

On Clause 5,

Denis Coderre moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing line 5 on page 3 with the following:

“government, or with any other entity or person, including cooperation agreements and agreements related to distinct sectors of Quebec’s economy.”

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the words “and agreements related to distinct sectors of Quebec's economy.”

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Denis Coderre and it was agreed to.

On motion of Michael Chong, it was agreed, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 5, be amended by adding after line 5 on page 3 the following:

“(3) No grant or contribution shall be announced from the date that a federal election has been called until the day after voting day.”

Sébastien Gagnon proposed to move, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 5, be amended by adding after line 5 on page 3 the following:

“(3) The Minister shall exercise his or her powers in a manner that will

(a) promote the attainment of the regional development objectives of the government of Quebec;

(b) enter into agreements with the government of Quebec for the purpose of transferring to that province federal funds allocated to regional development programs; and

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 655 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 5, be amended by adding after line 5 on page 3 the following:

“(3) The Minister shall exercise his or her powers in a manner that will respect the regional development priorities of the government of Quebec.”

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Paul Crête, Sébastien Gagnon, Brian Masse — 3; NAYS: Michael Chong, Denis Coderre, Jerry Pickard, Pablo Rodriguez, Werner Schmidt, David Smith, Bradley R. Trost, Peter Van Loan — 8.

Clause 5, as amended, carried on division.

On Clause 6,

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 6, be amended by replacing lines 6 to 17 on page 3 with the following:

“6. The Minister shall, while respecting the regional development priorities of the government of Quebec, exercise his or her powers and perform his or her duties and functions in a manner that will

(a) promote economic development in the regions of Quebec where low incomes and/or slow economic growth are prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate;

(b) emphasize long-term economic development and sustainable employment and income creation; and

Debate arose thereon.

Denis Coderre moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the following: “, while respecting the regional development priorities of the government of Quebec,”

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Denis Coderre and it was agreed to on division.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the amendment as amended be further amended in paragraph 6a) of the French version, by replacing the words “et/ou ” with the word “ou”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Sébastien Gagnon, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Clause 6, as amended, carried on division.

Clauses 7 to 9 inclusive carried on division severally.

On Clause 10,

On motion of Sébastien Gagnon, it was agreed, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 10, be amended by replacing lines 11 to 18 on page 4 with the following:

“the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate.”

Bradley R. Trost moved, — That the Bill C-9, in Clause 10, be amended by adding after line 18 on page 4 with the following:

“In carrying out its object, the Agency shall take such measures as will promote cooperation and complementarity with Québec and communities in Québec.”

Debate arose thereon.

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the following: “and communities in Québec.”

The question was put on the subamendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bradley R. Trost and it was agreed to.

Clause 10, as amended, carried on division.

On Clause 11,

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing lines 23 to 25 on page 4 with the following:

“Government of Canada, and with the government of Quebec, establish policies to ensure that the implementation of all federal programs in Quebec meets the best interests of the regions of Quebec, especially rural regions;”

The question was put on the amendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

On motion of Bradley R. Trost, it was agreed, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 11, be amended by adding after line 25 on page 4 the following:

“(a.1) plan and implement mechanisms to facilitate cooperation and concerted action with Quebec and communities in”

On motion of Denis Coderre, it was agreed on division, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing lines 34 and 35 on page 4 with the following:

“talent in Quebec,

(iii) to economic prosperity in Quebec, and

(iv) to the development of communities in Quebec;”

On motion of Denis Coderre, it was agreed on division, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 11, be amended by replacing line 34 on page 5 with the following:

“of the Agency, including cooperation agreements and agreements related to distinct sectors of Quebec’s economy; and”

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 11, be amended by adding after line 34 on page 5 the following:

“(i.1) enter into agreements with the government of Quebec for the purpose of transferring to that government any amount required to implement its regional development priorities; and”

Debate arose thereon.

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 655 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Whereupon, Paul Crête appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

Clause 11, as amended, carried on division.

On Clause 12,

Brad Trost proposed to move, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 12, be amended by

(a) replacing line 20 on page 6 with the following:

“Minister by section 7;”

(b) replacing line 26 on page 6 with the following:

“tion of the economy of the regions of Quebec; and

(g) in the Minister's cooperation with Quebec.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible.

Clauses 12 and 13 carried on division severally.

On Clause 14,

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 14, be amended by replacing line 32 on page 6 with the following:

“the Province of Quebec.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was agreed to.

Clause 14, as amended, carried.

By unanimous consent, Clauses 15 to 28 inclusive carried.

By unanimous consent, the Committee reverted to Clause 2 previously stood.

On Clause 2,

Sébastien Gagnon moved, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 2, be amended by deleting lines 12 to 17 on page 1.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Sébastien Gagnon and it was agreed to.

On motion of Denis Coderre, it was agreed, — That Bill C-9, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 17 on page 1 the following:

““enterprise” includes a social economy enterprise.”

Clause 2, as amended, carried on division.

Clause 1 carried on division.

The Title carried on division.

The Bill, as amended, carried on division.

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

ORDERED, — That Bill C-9, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 7:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

By unanimous consent, at 7:35 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

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

At 7:38 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Louise M. Thibault
Clerk of the Committee

2005/11/25 2:41 p.m.