Yvan Baker moved, — That in accordance with its motion adopted on Tuesday, 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.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on division.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That in accordance with its motion adopted on Tuesday, 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 no less than twenty hours of witness testimony, excluding appearances by the Minister and departmental officials, that witnesses appear as part of one-hour panels of four witnesses, with one witness selected from each recognized party; and that, for the purposes of this study, the Chair be empowered to set up extended meetings and request additional House resources, if necessary.

It was agreed, — The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Daniel Blaikie moved on Thursday, February 29, 2024, which read as follows:

Given that the Canadian grocery sector made more than $6 billion in profit in 2023 and that millions of Canadians have reported food insecurity in the last year, the Standing Committee on Finance call on the government to immediately take action by implementing an excess profit tax on large grocery companies that would put money back in the people's pocket with a GST rebate and establish a National School Food Program, and that this motion be reported to the House. <

Debate arose thereon.

At 11:30 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:35 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The Minister made a statement and, with Chris Forbes, answered questions.

At 12:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

The Chair called Vote 1 under Department of Finance.

The Minister, with Chris Forbes, answered questions.

It was agreed, — That the committee resume debate on the motion of Mr. Blaike moved on Thursday, February 29, 2024, which read as follows:

Given that the Canadian grocery sector made more than $6 billion in profit in 2023 and that millions of Canadians have reported food insecurity in the last year, the Standing Committee on Finance call on the government to immediately take action by implementing an excess profit tax on large grocery companies that would put money back in the people's pocket with a GST rebate and establish a National School Food Program, and that this motion be reported to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

At 1:22 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:27 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued on the amendment of Gabriel Ste-Marie.

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

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Daniel Blaikie, Julie Dzerowicz, Anna Gainey, Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joanne Thompson, Patrick Weiler — 7;

NAYS: Adam Chambers, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Philip Lawrence, Marty Morantz — 4.