THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, June 22, 2020
(17)

[English]

Pursuant to the orders of the Senate of April 11, 2020 and June 16, 2020, the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day by videoconference at 11:26 a.m. (ET), the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Dagenais, Deacon (Ontario), Duncan, Forest, Galvez, Gold, P.C., Harder, P.C., Klyne, Loffreda, Marshall, Martin, Mockler, Richards and Smith (15).

Other senator present by videoconference: The Honourable Senator Pate (1).

Participating in the meeting: Gaëtane Lemay and Mireille Aubé, Procedural Clerks, Committees Directorate; Shaowei Pu, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Saturday, April 11, 2020, the committee resumed its study on a) certain elements of Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19; b) the provisions and operations of Bill C-14, A second Act respecting measures in response to COVID-19; and, c) the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences.

APPEARING (by teleconference):

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Graham Flack, Deputy Minister;

Benoît Robidoux, Associate Deputy Minister;

Mark Perlman, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister.

The chair made a statement.

The minister made a statement and, together with Mr. Flack, answered questions.

At 11:47 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 12 p.m., the committee resumed.

The minister and Mr. Flack continued to answer questions.

At 12:33 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:34 p.m., the committee, pursuant to rule 12-16 (1)(d), resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, the committee continued its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

It was agreed that one staff member for each member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be permitted to access the Zoom meeting during the in camera portion of the meeting.

The committee considered a draft report.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted and that the chair, or his designate, be authorized to table the report in the Senate, or with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, at the earliest opportunity.

At 1:32 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee