Standing Committee on Finance

Comité permanent des finances

For immediate release

Ottawa, September 09, 2016 -

Today, the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., announced the Committee’s hearing schedule as it continues its consultations in advance of the 2017 federal budget.

“I know that I speak on behalf of the Committee in thanking all Canadians and Canadian organizations that submitted a brief to us,” said Mr. Easter. “Over the 3 June–5 August 2016 period, the Committee received more than 400 briefs from interested groups and individuals. Their thoughts and proposals cover a broad range of federal public policy areas, and we look forward to reviewing each of the submissions.”

Mr. Easter concluded: “The Committee also received more than 225 requests from individuals and groups wishing to appear before the Committee this fall. While some of the hearings will be held in Ottawa, the Committee will also be travelling to various locations throughout Canada to hear from Canadians and Canadian organizations. In the coming weeks, the Committee clerk will be contacting individuals and groups from which the Committee wishes to hear in this next phrase of our pre-budget consultation process.”

The Committee will hold pre-budget hearings in September and October 2016. The weeks of 26 September 2016 and 24 October 2016, hearings will be held in Ottawa, and witnesses – who will include those from provinces and territories that the Committee will not be visiting – will appear in person or by videoconference. The weeks of 3 and 17 October, hearings will be held across Canada in accordance with the following schedule:

3 October: Kelowna, British Columbia

4 October: Edmonton, Alberta

5 October: Regina, Saskatchewan

6 October: Winnipeg, Manitoba

17 October: Fredericton, New Brunswick

18 October: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

19 October: Halifax, Nova Scotia

20 October: Quebec City, Quebec

21 October: Toronto, Ontario.

As well, during the Committee's meetings the weeks of 3 and 17 October 2016, interested Canadians who were not invited to make a formal appearance will have an opportunity to share their views on budgetary priorities. The Committee will use an 'open mic' format and - on a first-come, first-served basis - individuals who submit their name at least one hour before the time at which the Committee's last panel with invited witnesses is scheduled to end, will have up to one minute to share their views with Committee members.