FINA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 22

Monday, February 4, 2008

The Standing Committee on Finance met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 213, Wellington Building, the Chair, Rob Merrifield, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Paul Crête, Dean Del Mastro, Rick Dykstra, Jean-Yves Laforest, Hon. John McCallum, Hon. John McKay, Rob Merrifield, Massimo Pacetti, Hon. Garth Turner and Mike Wallace.

Acting Members present: Tony Martin for Thomas J. Mulcair and Daniel Petit for Ted Menzies.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: June Dewetering, Principal Analyst ; Alexandre Laurin, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of Finance: Robert Dunlop, General Director, Economic Development and Corporate Finance; Isabelle Amano, Director, Economic Analysis and Forecasting Division, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch; Nancy Horsman, Director, Business Income Tax Divison, Tax Policy Branch; Mark Hodgson, Senior Policy Analyst, Labour Markets, Employment and Learning, Social Policy, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch; Yves Giroux, Director, Social Policy, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch; Pat Saroli, Senior Advisor, Trade Remedies and General Economic Relations, International Trade Policy Division, International Trade and Finance.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to a briefing on federal financial assistance to the forestry and manufacturing sectors.

Robert Dunlop made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

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

Paul Crête moved, — That the Committee recommend to the government, in view of the serious crisis in the forestry and manufacturing sectors, that it implement without delay an improved assistance plan for the forestry and manufacturing sectors, including $500 million to restore Technology Partnerships Canada; $1.5 billion in reimbursable contributions to allow companies to purchase new equipment; a $1 billion diversification fund for the forestry industry, to be administered by Quebec and the provinces and allocated among them based according to the size of their forestry industry; $1.5 billion in support measures for workers affected by the crisis, including $60 million for an income support program for senior workers and a $1.44 billion reserve for the employment insurance fund to be placed in a special fund until an independent fund is created; and that the adoption of this motion be reported to the House at the earliest opportunity.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Paul Crête, Jean-Yves Laforest, Tony Martin, Massimo Pacetti — 4; NAYS: Dean Del Mastro, Rick Dykstra, John McCallum, John McKay, Daniel Petit, Garth Turner, Mike Wallace — 7.

At 4:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Jean-François Pagé
Clerk of the Committee

2008/02/05 9:09 a.m.