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FINA Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 132
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 11:06 a.m. to 1:07 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Peter Fonseca, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Mehrab Kiarsi, Analyst
• Michaël Lambert-Racine, Analyst
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $1,250, for the study of non-prime lending and the criminal interest rate, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $5,250, for the study of subject matter 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, be adopted.

Canada Border Services Agency
• Joel Gibbons, Senior Program Advisor
Department of Employment and Social Development
• Mona Nandy, Executive Director, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch
• Sébastien St-Arnaud, Manager, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program
• Douglas Wolfe, Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Analysis and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program
Department of Finance
• Yannick Côté-Steben, Senior Advisor, Financial Institutions Division
• Charlene Davidson, Director, Financial Crimes Policy
• Erin Hunt, Director General, Financial Crimes and Security Division
• Nicolas Marion, Senior Director, Payments Policy
• Barbara Russell, Director, Competition and Strategic Initiatives, Financial Institutions Division
• Khusro Saeedi, Senior Director, Framework Policy, Financial Institutions Division
Department of Health
• Sonia Johnson, Director General, Tobacco Control
• Karen Stewart, Director General, Resource Management and Advisory Services Directorate
Department of Industry
• Samir Chhabra, Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch
• Ian Disend, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Directorate
• Paul Morrison, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Policy Directorate, Strategic Policy Sector
• Mark Schaan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector
• Martin Simard, Senior Director, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Directorate
Department of Justice
• Erin Cassidy, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section
Department of the Environment
• Gemma Boag, Director General, Freshwater Policy and Engagement
Office of Infrastructure of Canada
• Lindsay Boldt, Senior Director, Strategic Policy
• Gerard Peets, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Results Branch
Service Canada
• Jenelle Power, Director General, Employment Insurance Benefits Processing, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch
Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, March 18, 2024, the committee commenced 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 witnesses answered questions.

Adam Chambers gave notice of the following motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and with regards to section 72 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, the committee undertake a study to review the Act and the current situation regarding money laundering and terrorist financing in Canada. That as part of the study the committee calls the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for no fewer than two hours, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada no fewer than two hours, the Minister of Public Safety no fewer than two hours, the Minister of National Revenue no fewer than two hours, department officials for the departments of Justice and Public Safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canadian Border Security Agency, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments, the Cullen Commission Lead Counsel, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, CIBC, National Bank, the Ontario Securities Commission and other witnesses as submitted by the members of the committee. That the committee take no fewer than ten meetings for this study and that it report its findings to the House.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Yvan Baker gave notice of the following motion:

That in accordance with its motion adopted on Thursday, 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.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

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

Motion

Jasraj Singh Hallan moved, —

That, given that,

a)The carbon tax increases the cost of food;

b) Canadians are already set to spend an additional $700 on groceries this year;

c) Increased food costs are driving Canadians to food banks in record numbers;

d) There are now 8,000 members of the Dumpster Diving Network of Toronto Facebook group; and

e) Increasing the carbon tax on Monday, April 1, 2024, will only make food prices even more expensive.

In order to help Canadians afford groceries and reduce reliance on food banks, the committee call on the Liberal Government to cancel the 23% carbon tax increase on Monday, April 1, 2024, and report this recommendation to the House

.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Adam Chambers, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Philip Lawrence, Marty Morantz — 4;

NAYS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Julie Dzerowicz, Irek Kusmierczyk, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 7.

Canada Border Services Agency
• Joel Gibbons, Senior Program Advisor
Department of Employment and Social Development
• Mona Nandy, Executive Director, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch
• Sébastien St-Arnaud, Manager, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Labour Program
• Douglas Wolfe, Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Analysis and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program
Department of Finance
• Yannick Côté-Steben, Senior Advisor, Financial Institutions Division
• Charlene Davidson, Director, Financial Crimes Policy
• Erin Hunt, Director General, Financial Crimes and Security Division
• Nicolas Marion, Senior Director, Payments Policy
• Barbara Russell, Director, Competition and Strategic Initiatives, Financial Institutions Division
• Khusro Saeedi, Senior Director, Framework Policy, Financial Institutions Division
Department of Health
• Sonia Johnson, Director General, Tobacco Control
• Karen Stewart, Director General, Resource Management and Advisory Services Directorate
Department of Industry
• Samir Chhabra, Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch
• Ian Disend, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Directorate
• Paul Morrison, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Policy Directorate, Strategic Policy Sector
• Mark Schaan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector
• Martin Simard, Senior Director, Corporate, Insolvency and Competition Directorate
Department of Justice
• Erin Cassidy, Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section
Department of the Environment
• Gemma Boag, Director General, Freshwater Policy and Engagement
Office of Infrastructure of Canada
• Lindsay Boldt, Senior Director, Strategic Policy
• Gerard Peets, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy and Results Branch
Service Canada
• Jenelle Power, Director General, Employment Insurance Benefits Processing, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch
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.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the study on 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 committee members submit their preliminary list of witnesses to the office of the clerk on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

At 1:07 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Alexandre Roger
Clerk of the committee