FINA Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 168

Thursday, February 18, 1999

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 11:10 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Maurizio Bevilacqua, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Carolyn Bennett, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Scott Brison, Odina Desrochers, Nick Discepola, Ken Epp, Roger Gallaway, Sophia Leung, Gary Pillitteri, Karen Redman, Paul Szabo and Tony Valeri.

Acting Member present: Serge Cardin for Yvan Loubier.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Marion Wrobel, Senior Analyst. From the Legislative Services Branch: Susan Baldwin, Procedural Clerk.

Appearing: From the Department of Finance: Tony Valeri, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Finance.

Witnesses: From the Department of Finance: Peter Gusen, Director; Richard Davis, Chief, Program Policy and Operations; Pierre Doucet, Senior Policy Analyst, Program Policy and Operations; Marcie Doran, Economist, Program Policy and Operations; Doug Adlard, Counsel, General Legal Services.

In accordance with the Order of Reference of the House of Commons of Monday, February 15, 1999, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-65, an Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance made a statement.

Peter Gusen from the Department of Finance made a statement and with the Parliamentary Secretary and the other witnesses answered questions.

At 12:50 o’clock, p.m., the Committee proceeded to consider its future business.

It was agreed, - That on Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening, March 1, 2 and 3, respectively, the Committee would hear witnesses on Bill C-65 and that on Thursday morning, March 4, the Committee would proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

It was agreed, - That on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon, March 2, 3 and 4, respectively, the Committee would hear witnesses on the MacKay Report.

The Chair presented the Fifth Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

1. That the clerk be authorized to establish a schedule of witnesses for the Committee to hear on the MacKay Report, based on the list to be submitted by Mr. Loubier and subject to the availability of the witnesses, preferably during the week of February 8, 1999.

2. That the Committee invite the Minister to appear on the Estimates of the Department of Finance.

3. That the Committee arrange for briefing sessions on topics of particular relevance to the work of the Committee, that Members submit subject ideas to the clerk for subsequent consideration and selection by the Committee and that the ideas be submitted to the clerk by February 12, 1999.

4. That the clerk draft some scenarios and a framework for a Pre-Budget Consultation program based on a series of subject-matter roundtables in May, followed by a series of regional conferences in the fall;

That the clerk draft a detailed proposal for an outreach process to involve Members of Parliament in the Committee’s Pre-Budget Consultations;

For consideration by the committee.

5. That the Committee invite EC Commissioner Mr. Yves Thibault de Silguy to appear on the afternoon of Thursday, April 29, 1999.

After debate thereon, the report was agreed to.

At 1:02 o’clock, p.m., Scott Brison moved, - That the Government should consider abolishing the regional rates of pay now in force for certain federal government employees in accordance with its stated policy of pay equity.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived.

At 1:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Pat Steenberg

Clerk of the Committee