FINA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Finance met in a televised session at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Brian Pallister, presiding.

Yvan Loubier moved, — That the Standing Committee on Finance schedule televised sessions to study the Canada-Barbados Tax Treaty and any legislation or regulations directly or indirectly related to the Treaty, when the House returns in the Fall.

That the Committee should hear evidence from the following witnesses and any other individuals or groups who request to appear:

- the former Minister of Finance who oversaw these changes between 1994 and 1998;

- officials from the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency with expertise in tax treaties, especially with section 30(3) of the Barbados tax treaty and Income Tax Act Regulation 5907(11.2)(c);

- members of the board of directors of Canada Steamship Lines;

- members of the board of directors of CSL International;

- representatives of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada;

- representatives of ATTAC;

- André Lareau, tax lawyer; .

- Guylaine Leclerc, forensic accountant; and

- Brigitte Alepin, tax expert

That the Committee reserve the right to add witnesses to this list, as deemed relevant to the study; and

That the Committee report and make recommendations to the House of Commons.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, — That the Standing Committee on Finance, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), recommend to the Minister of Justice to amend the Criminal Code to provide for the exemption of payday loans from Section 347 of the Code in circumstances where provincial regulation of the payday lending industry has been established and a request for such an exemption made.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Standing Order 108(2)” the following: “report to the House, recommending”.

After debate, by unanimous consent, the motion, as amended, was allowed to stand.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Yvan Loubier, — That the Standing Committee on Finance schedule televised sessions to study the Canada-Barbados Tax Treaty and any legislation or regulations directly or indirectly related to the Treaty, when the House returns in the Fall.

That the Committee should hear evidence from the following witnesses and any other individuals or groups who request to appear:

- the former Minister of Finance who oversaw these changes between 1994 and 1998;

- officials from the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency with expertise in tax treaties, especially with section 30(3) of the Barbados tax treaty and Income Tax Act Regulation 5907(11.2)(c);

- members of the board of directors of Canada Steamship Lines;

- members of the board of directors of CSL International;

- representatives of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada;

- representatives of ATTAC;

- André Lareau, tax lawyer; .

- Guylaine Leclerc, forensic accountant; and

- Brigitte Alepin, tax expert

That the Committee reserve the right to add witnesses to this list, as deemed relevant to the study.

And that the Committee report and make recommendations to the House of Commons.

The debate continued.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words following "when the House returns in the Fall" and before "as deemed relevant to the study".

John McKay moved, — That the amendment be amended by deleting the words "Canada Barbados Tax Treaty" and by substituting the following:

"all tax treaties to which Canada is a signatory".

The Chair ruled the proposed subamendment inadmissible as it exceeded the scope of the motion, as provided on page 453 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

The question was put on the amendment of Judy Wasylycia-Leis and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Diane Ablonczy, Dean Del Mastro, Rick Dykstra, Garth Turner, Judy Wasylycia-Leis — 5; NAYS: Paul Crête, Massimo Pacetti, Thierry St-Cyr — 3.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Diane Ablonczy, Paul Crête, Dean Del Mastro, Rick Dykstra, Thierry St-Cyr, Garth Turner, Judy Wasylycia-Leis — 7; NAYS: John McCallum, John McKay, Massimo Pacetti, Michael Savage — 4.

It was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2) a Subcommittee on New Technologies to be chaired by a member elected by the Subcommittee, be established to investigate options and new technologies available to ensure effective and comprehensive e-consultation for the subsequent round of pre-budget consultations, as may be referred to it by the Committee; that the Subcommittee be composed of (four (4) members or associate members of which one (1) member selected from each political party, to be named following the usual consultation; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, and to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned; and

That the Subcommittee be granted all of the powers of the Committee pursuant to Standing Order 108 (1) except the power to report to the House.

At 5:30 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.