NRGO Committee Meeting
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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 47
Tuesday, November 24, 1998
The Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations met at 11:00 a.m. this day, in Room 536, Wellington Building, the Chair, Brent St. Denis, presiding.
Membes of the Committee present: Réginald Bélair, Gilles Bernier, David Chatters, Roy Cullen, Tony Ianno, Marlene Jennings, Ghislain Lebel, Carolyn Parrish, Carmen Provenzano, Werner Schmidt, Ben Serré, Brent St. Denis.??
Acting Members present: Ken Epp for John Duncan; Lou Sekora for Gerry Byrne.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Jean-Luc Bourdages; Jack Stilborn, Researchers.
Witnesses: From the Royal Canadian Mint: Beverly Ann Lepine, Vice President, Administration and Finance; Danielle Wetherup, Master of the Mint; Marguerite Nadeau, Senior Counsel and Corporate Secretary Legal Services.
The Committee discussed its future business.
David Chatters moved,--That, the Minister of Natural Resources, Ralph Goodale, be requested to appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity, but not later than December 2, 1998, to address Supplementary Estimates and the Performance Reviews of the Department for the fiscal year of 1998-99.
After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Carolyn Parrish made a statement on Canada Post's retail program.
The Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-41, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint and the Currency Act.
Clause 1 carried.
On Clause 2.
Werner Schmidt, moved,--That Bill C-41, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 2 to 18 on page 2 with the following:
"may
(a) produce and arrange for the production and supply of coins of the currency of Canada;
(b) produce coins of the currency of countries other than Canada;
(c) melt, assay and refine gold, silver and other metals;
(d) buy and sell gold, silver and other metals;
(e) assay, refine, store and otherwise deal with gold, silver and other metals for the account of Her Majesty or others;
(f) prepare and store shipments of coin, gold, silver and other metals and move such shipments to or from the Mint;
(g) make medals, plaques and other devices;
(h) to borrow or lease precious metals that it requires for the purposes of its operations; and
(i) to do all other things that are incidental ou conducive to the attainment of the objects and the exercise of the powers of the Mint."
RULING OF THE CHAIR
Bill C-41 deletes clauses 2 and 4 of the Act and attempts to substitute something else for them. The amendments of Mr. Schmidt re-introduce the sections of the Act that the bill would delete. The wording in both amendments is almost word for word that of the original Act. In this instance, the proper course of action would be to vote against the clauses in the bill and re-install the provisions of the Act that way.
Where upon Mr. Schmidt appealed the decision of the Chair. The question was put by the Chair: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" The Chair's decision was sustained on the following division:
YEAS
Réginald Bélair, Lou Sekora, Roy Cullen, Tony Ianno, Marlene Jennings, Carolyn Parrish, Carmen Provenzano, Ben Serré, Ghislain Lebel.
NEAS
David Chatters, Ken Epp.
On Clause 3
Mr. Bernier moved,--That Bill C-41, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 10 to 26 on page 3 with the following:
"6.6 The Governor in Council, may, by order, amend Part 2 of the schedule by amending any characteristic of a circulation coin."
After debate, the question was put on the amendment and it was agreed to.
Clause 3, as amended, carried.
On Clause 4
Mr. Schmidt moved,--That Bill C-41, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing line 27 on page 3 with the following:
R.S., c. 35 (3rd Supp.), s. 6
"4. Subsection 7(4) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(4) Where, pursuant to subparagraph 4(1)(c)(iii), the Mint deals with gold, silver or other metals for the account of Her Majesty, payments for the purchase thereof shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund on the authorization of the Minister of Finance and all amounts received from the sale thereof shall be paid into the consolidated Revenue Fund."
RULING OF THE CHAIR
This amendment was ruled out of order on the same grounds as Mr. Schmidt's amendment to Clause 2.
On Clause 5
Mr. Schmidt moved,--That Bill C-41, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing lines 30 to 33 on page 3 with the following:
Board of Directors
"8. The Board of Directors of the Mint shall consist of nine directors, including the Chairperson and the Master."
After debate, the question was put on the amendment and it was negatived.
Clause 5 carried, on division.
Clause 6 carried.
On Clause 7.
Mr. Schmidt moved,--That Bill C-41, in Clause 7, be amended by replacing line 7 on page 4 with the following:
"not exceed 50 million dollars or such greater"
After debate, the question was put on the amendment and it was negatived.
Clause 7 carried, on division.
Clause 8 carried.
Clause 9 carried.
Clause 10 carried.
Clause 11 carried.
Clause 12 carried.
Clause 13 carried.
Clause 14. carried.
Clause 15 carried.
Schedule 1 carried.
The Bill, as amended, carried.
ORDERED,--That the Chair report the Bill to the House.
At 11:58 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Martine Bresson
Clerk(s) of the Committee