Éric Cimon and Marie-Josée Houle made statements.

At 11:17 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:17 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Ray Sullivan made a statement and, with Eloïse Houpert, answered questions.

Jasraj Singh Hallan moved, — Given that:

1. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor will automatically increase on Monday, April 1, 2024;
2. This year's tax increase will be 4.7%—the amount equivalent to average inflation over the past year; and
3. Canadians and businesses cannot afford another tax increase;

The committee report to the House that it calls on the government to cancel its Monday, April 1, 2024, tax increase on beer, wine and liquor.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

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

Given that:

1. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor will automatically increase on Monday, April 1, 2024;
2. This year's tax increase will be 4.7%—the amount equivalent to average inflation over the past year; and
3. Canadians and businesses cannot afford another tax increase;

The committee report to the House that it calls on the government to cancel its Monday, April 1, 2024, tax increase on beer, wine and liquor.

Adam Chambers gave notice of the following motion:

That, with respect of Royal Bank of Canada’s purchase of HSBC Canada, the Committee call on the government to require an amount equal to no less than $100M be set aside in escrow for a period of 18 months to cover any fines, penalties or levies that may potentially be against HSBC Canada in connection with any current or future investigations by regulators or authorities under relevant legislation or regulations, including the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Terrorist Financing Act.

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

Given that:

1. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor will automatically increase on Monday, April 1, 2024;
2. This year's tax increase will be 4.7%—the amount equivalent to average inflation over the past year; and
3. Canadians and businesses cannot afford another tax increase;

The committee report to the House that it calls on the government to cancel its Monday, April 1, 2024, tax increase on beer, wine and liquor.

and of the amendment of Daniel Blaikie which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing after the words “past year” with the following: “Breweries, wineries and distilleries are an important source of wealth and employment in the Canadian economy, and; industry sales have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, the committee calls on the government to limit the Monday, April 1, 2024, increase of the excise tax on beer, wine and liquor to the Bank of Canada’s target inflation rate of 2%”.

At 12:20 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:38 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jasraf Singh Hallan which read as follows:

Given that:

1. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor will automatically increase on Monday, April 1, 2024;
2. This year's tax increase will be 4.7%—the amount equivalent to average inflation over the past year; and
3. Canadians and businesses cannot afford another tax increase;

The committee report to the House that it calls on the government to cancel its Monday, April 1, 2024, tax increase on beer, wine and liquor.

and of the amendment of Daniel Blaikie which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing after the words “past year” with the following: “Breweries, wineries and distilleries are an important source of wealth and employment in the Canadian economy, and; industry sales have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, the committee calls on the government to limit the Monday, April 1, 2024, increase of the excise tax on beer, wine and liquor to the Bank of Canada’s target inflation rate of 2%”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

Given that:

1. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor will automatically increase on Monday, April 1, 2024;
2. This year's tax increase will be 4.7%—the amount equivalent to average inflation over the past year;
3. Breweries, wineries and distilleries are an important source of wealth and employment in the Canadian economy, and;
4. industry sales have not returned to pre-pandemic levels;

The committee calls on the government to limit the Monday, April 1, 2024, increase of the excise tax on beer, wine and liquor to the Bank of Canada’s target inflation rate of 2%.

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

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Adam Chambers, Julie Dzerowicz, Darren Fisher, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Pat Kelly, Marty Morantz, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

At 12:42 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:48 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Shaping our Economic Future: Canadian Priorities".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, clerk and analysts be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motion adopted on Thursday, February 8,  dissenting or supplementary opinions for the report of the study on Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Budget be submitted to the clerk of the committee on Monday, February 19, 2024.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $15,250, for the study of Policy Decisions and Market Forces that have led to Increases in the Cost of Buying or Renting a Home in Canada, be adopted.