THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL FINANCE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, March 8, 2021
(13)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day by videoconference at 1 p.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, Klyne, Loffreda, Marshall, Mockler, Smith and White (12).

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

In attendance: Andrea Mugny, Procedural Clerk, Committees Directorate; Sylvain Fleury and Shaowei Pu, Analysts, 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 Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the committee continued its examination of the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:

Douglas McConnachie, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Management Sector;

Margaret Buist, Vice-President, Policy, Planning, Communications and NPMO, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency;

Lisa St-Amour, Chief Financial Officer, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario;

Cathy McLean, Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Management and Chief Financial Officer, Western Economic Diversification Canada;

Jean-Frédéric Lafaille, Vice-President, Policy and Communications, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions;

Bill Grandy, Director General, Programs, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Global Affairs Canada:

Anick Ouellette, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Planning, Finance and Information Technology Branch;

Yannick Hébert, Director, Resource Management;

Sue Szabo, Director General, Innovative and Climate Finance Bureau;

Joshua Tabah, Director General, Health and Nutrition, Global Issues and Development Branch.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. McConnachie made a statement and, together with Ms. Buist, Ms. St-Amour, Ms. McLean, Mr. Grandy and Mr. Lafaille, answered questions.

At 2:33 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:36 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Ouellette made a statement and, together with Mr. Tabah, Ms. Szabo and Mr. Hébert, answered questions.

At 4:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee