Briefing binder created for the Deputy Minister of Finance on the occasion of his appearance before the Standing Committee on Finance on March 21, 2024 on Bill C-59, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 21, 2023 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023, and the Main Estimates 2024-25
Committee Member Biographies
About the Committee
The mandate of the Standing Committee on Finance, as established under Standing Order 108 of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, is to examine and enquire into all matters referred to it by the House and to send for persons, papers and records, as it operates in accordance with its mandate.
Standing committees are empowered to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the department or departments of government that are assigned to them from time to time by the House. For the Standing Committee on Finance, these include the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency.
The committee also has the responsibility to consider budgetary policy, as outlined in Standing Order 83.1, including studies on proposals for the government's budgetary policy and the budget itself. The committee normally undertakes its pre-budget consultations during the first sitting week of September and presents its report by the third last sitting day in December, as outlined in Standing Order 28(2).
In each parliamentary session, the committee's work may include:
- pre-budget consultations;
- briefing sessions by departmental officials on federal programs;
- examination of planned expenditures of the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency;
- a review of Order in Council appointments;
- a review of Monetary Policy Reports of the Governor of the Bank of Canada;
- a review of the Minister of Finance's economic and fiscal updates;
- consideration of proposed legislation;
- special studies on topics within the Committee's mandate; and
- consideration of reports of subcommittees.
Liberal Party
Yvan Baker
Liberal, Etobicoke Centre (Ontario)
Biography
Yvan Baker has been the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre since 2019. As a former Member of Provincial Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, he worked on the tunneling of the Eglinton West LRT, Silver Creek School for children with special needs, and expansion of local hospitals and schools.
Prior to being elected, Mr. Baker taught MBA students at York University's Schulich School of Business while operating his own management consulting practice. Before this time, Mr. Baker was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group in Toronto and New York. His work extended to clients in the public sector and Fortune 500 companies in a range of sectors including financial services, retail, energy, and telecommunications.
Mr. Baker has volunteered for a variety of charitable and humanitarian organizations: Leave Out Violence as Board Director; the Emerging Leaders Network; and Global Grassroots. Mr. Baker was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service to the community.
Analysis
Mr. Baker's questions in committee have focused on the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on a given sector. He often asks witnesses to provide international comparisons in respect to Canada's fiscal situation, social wellbeing, and climate initiatives. Moreover, he has expressed interest in national standards for long-term care homes, noting that facilities in his riding were hard hit by the pandemic and staffing issues.
In September 2023, Mr. Baker gave a notice of motion for the committee to study the current state of Canadian pension funds and the plan investments of Canadians retirement savings abroad.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In November 2021, Mr. Baker re-introduced Bill C-204, An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month, from the previous Parliament. In 2023, he introduced bills C-348, An Act to Establish Somali Heritage Month, and C-361, An Act to establish Albanian Heritage Month. These bills currently sit outside the Order of Precedence.
Rachel Bendayan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Liberal, Outremont (Quebec)
Biography
Rachel Bendayan has been the Member of Parliament for Outremont since a by-election in February 2019. She currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Previously, Ms. Bendayan served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade.
For nearly ten years, Ms. Bendayan built a legal practice at Norton Rose Fulbright in the fields of litigation and international arbitration, specializing in international trade law. She also taught at the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal. She later served as Chief of Staff to the federal Minister of Small Business and Tourism.
Analysis
In other committees, Ms. Bendayan has expressed interest in tariffs, exports, and bilateral trade with the United States. Ms. Bendayan has so stressed the importance of protecting Canada's supply chains in international trade agreements.
Julie Dzerowicz
Liberal, Davenport (Ontario)
Biography
Julie Dzerowicz is the Member of Parliament for Davenport following her election in 2015. She currently serves as chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association and vice-chair of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas.
Prior to her work in Parliament, Ms. Dzerowicz spent more than 20 years in senior level positions in banking and biotechnology. She co-founded the environmental organization Project Neutral in 2010 to help individuals and communities reduce their carbon emissions. Ms. Dzerowicz received her MBA from the University of British Columbia—completing her degree at the London Business School—and her Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University.
Analysis
In committee, Ms. Dzerowicz regularly asks witnesses how Canada can further stimulate business investment and address interprovincial trade barriers. Her questions have also focused on ways to address climate change and advance green technologies, often asking how international initiatives can be applied in Canada (e.g., United States Inflation Reduction Act). She has sought information on the Bank of Canada's negative equity position.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In the 43rd Parliament, Ms. Dzerowicz introduced Bill C-273, An Act to Establish a National Strategy for a Guaranteed Basic Income, which dropped from the Order Paper at Second Reading with the 2021 election. The bill aimed to enable basic income implementation pilots on a large scale in provinces and territories as well as help the federal government develop practices to better implement national programs.
Peter Fonseca, Chair
Liberal, Mississauga East-Cooksville (Ontario)
Biography
Peter Fonseca has been the Member of Parliament for Mississauga East-Cooksville since 2015. He is a former Olympian who represented Canada in the 1996 Olympic Games as a marathon runner.
Mr. Fonseca was a Member of Provincial Parliament representing Mississauga East and later Mississauga East-Cooksville between 2003-11. During that time, he served as a cabinet minister, leading portfolios on Labour and Tourism and Recreation.
For almost 20 years, he has lived with his family in his riding of Mississauga East-Cooksville where his wife, Christine Fonseca, is the Councillor for Ward 3 on the Mississauga City Council.Analysis
As chair, Mr. Fonseca's participation in committee is focused on maintaining decorum and outlining procedures. He typically does not intervene to express his views on a given matter or ask questions of witnesses.
In the House, he has advocated for small businesses and permanent residency for temporary foreign workers.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In the 44th Parliament, Mr. Fonseca introduced motion M-75 to designate May 3 of every year as Polish Heritage Month every May. The motion was agreed to in February 2024.
Joanne Thompson
Liberal, St. John's East (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Biography
Joanne Thompson has been the Member of Parliament for St. John's East since 2019. Ms. Thompson is Chair of the National Seniors Caucus.
Ms. Thompson has advocated for social justice issues, entrepreneurship, and supporting communities. She attributes this passion from her time volunteering at St. Clare's Hospital at a young age. Prior to her election, Ms. Thompson worked as a registered nurse while attending Memorial University part-time. She continued her career in community health until 1990 when she turned her focus to building a family business with her husband while studying to qualify as a graduate gemologist.
Ms. Thompson also served as the Executive Director of The Gathering Place, a community health centre serving vulnerable populations in downtown St. John's. During her time there, The Gathering Place added an overnight shelter and saw an increase in available services over a four-year period.
Analysis
Ms. Thompson has expressed interest in ways to address climate change including its impacts on her riding and Newfoundland and Labrador. She has spoke to the importance of rural economic development to support Canadians living in small communities. In that vein, she regularly asks witnesses for recommendations on how to bridge gaps and encourage greater communication between the federal government and their given sector. Moreover, she has advocated for seniors, particularly around prevention of mistreatment and abuse.
Patrick Weiler
Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country (British Columbia)
Biography
Patrick Weiler has been the Member of Parliament for West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country since 2019. Mr. Weiler is the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Tourism Caucus.
Before entering politics, Mr. Weiler was an environmental and Aboriginal lawyer and international development professional. During his career, he supported governments in improving the management of aquatic ecosystems as well as the governance of natural resource sectors on behalf of the United Nations and other international development agencies. Mr. Weiler represented First Nations, municipalities, small businesses, and non-profits on environmental and corporate legal matters within this riding, throughout British Columbia and around the world.
Mr. Weiler has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Law and a Bachelor of Arts program at McGill University.
Analysis
Mr. Weiler has expressed interest in action on climate change. He has supported initiatives to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under Canada's obligations in the Paris Agreement, build resilient communities, and ensure Canadian business seize economic opportunities in the transition to the clean economy. In committee, Mr. Weiler has regularly asked stakeholders how the federal government can further its commitment to a net-zero economy including electric grid expansion and risk mitigation.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
This session, Mr. Weiler introduced M-83, Old Growth Forest Protection. The motion encourages the creation of an Old Growth Nature Fund to leverage co-financing from public and private sources to finance the protection and conservation of the remaining old growth forest in Canada as well as a ban on the export of old growth logs and related wood products. The motion was placed on notice as of May 2023.
In the 43rd Parliament, Mr. Weiler also worked on Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050.
Conservative Party
Adam Chambers
Opposition Critic for National Revenue
Conservative, Simcoe North (Ontario)
Biography
Adam Chambers has been the Member of Parliament for Simcoe North since 2021. He currently serves as Opposition Critic for National Revenue.
Before his election, Mr. Chambers practiced law until he became a senior advisor to Minister Jim Flaherty at the Department of Finance. He attributes his appreciation of the value of public service and the importance of fiscal responsibility from this experience.
Since 2015, he has been a board member of the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene to promote mental health awareness. Mr. Chambers is also a founding board member of Building Up, a non-profit whose mission is to create employment opportunities in the skilled trades for at-risk youth. Prior his election, he was also Assistant Vice President at one of Canada's largest financial institutions.Analysis
Mr. Chambers has focused his questions on the effectiveness of government processes to administer payments and programs. He often asks witnesses how the government can combat inflation and better spend revenues. His other areas of interest include the prevention of money laundering, the competitiveness of Canada’s manufacturing sector, and the inflationary impact of government spending.
In June 2023, Mr. Chambers gave a notice of motion for the committee to study open banking and real payments. In 2022, he initiated a short study in committee for the Department of Finance to provide an economic analysis report on the implementation of the Select Luxury Items Tax Act (introduced in Bill C-19, Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1).
Private Members' Bills and Motions
Mr. Chambers introduced Bill C-289, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (identity verification), which was defeated at Second Reading in the House of Commons in March 2023. The bill aimed to combat money laundering by making it an offence for any person or business to provide false information to financial institutions to conceal illegal sources of money or the identity of account holders.
Jasraj Singh Hallan, Vice-Chair
Opposition Critic for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity
Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn (Alberta)
Biography
Jasraj Singh Hallan has been the Member of Parliament for Calgary Forest Lawn since 2019. He currently serves as Opposition Critic for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity.
As former Opposition Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Mr. Hallan's parliamentary activities largely focused on issues related to Canada's immigration system, application backlogs and processing time, and temporary foreign workers. He is also a member of the Special Committee on Afghanistan.
Mr. Hallan was raised in northeast Calgary, where he earned an accounting diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He has a certified Master Builder designation and ran a homebuilding business in Calgary.
Analysis
Mr. Hallan has expressed a strong interest in Canada's natural resources sector, namely oil and gas, questioning government regulation of the sector and the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. In committee, he regularly asks witnesses about the sector's economic contributions to Canada (particularly that of Alberta's) and the impact of phasing out fossil fuels on jobs and the economy.
In line with his party's position, Mr. Hallan is a vocal opponent to additional government spending, and the "carbon tax". In committee, he regularly asks witnesses about the domestic causes and impacts of inflation. Mr. Hallan has also sought information on Canada’s productivity and economic growth.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In the 43rd Parliament, Mr. Hallan introduced Bill C-304, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (grooming), which dropped from the Order Paper with the 2021 election. The bill aimed to make grooming an aggravating factor when a court imposes a sentence for certain sexual offences. It would also consider grooming as a practice where the offender has communications or conducts relations with victims with the intention of leading them to participate in the offence.
Philip Lawrence
Conservative, Northumberland-Peterborough South (Ontario)
Biography
First elected in 2019, Philip Lawrence is the Member of Parliament for Northumberland–Peterborough South. He currently serves as the Associate Opposition Critic for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity (Tax Reform).
Prior to his election, Mr. Lawrence practiced tax law before working in financial services for over ten years. He obtained a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.
Analysis
Mr. Lawrence has expressed concern for Canada’s productivity levels and economic growth. In that vein, he has asked witnesses for recommendations to increase Canada’s overall productivity and debt-to-GDP ratio. In line with his party's position, Mr. Lawrence is a vocal opponent to additional government spending, the "carbon tax". Other areas of questioning include domestic causes for inflation and the inflationary impact of various government initiatives.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
Mr. Lawrence is currently sponsoring Bill S-216, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (use of resources of a registered charity). This bill aims to permit charities to provide their resources to a person who is not a qualified donee provided they take reasonable steps to ensure those resources are used exclusively for a charitable purpose. In June 2022, Mr. Lawrence introduced Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, which is at Second Reading in the Senate.
In the 43rd Parliament, Mr. Lawrence introduced Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel), which passed through the House of Commons with support from the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Green Party. The bill was dropped from the Order Paper at Second Reading in Senate with the 2021 election.
Marty Morantz
Conservative, Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley (Manitoba)
Biography
Marty Morantz has been the Member of Parliament since 2019. He currently serves as the Associate Opposition Critic for Finance and Middle Class Prosperity (Affordable Government).
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Mr. Morantz served as City Councillor for Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge ward in Winnipeg from 2014-18. During this time, he served as the chair of the finance and infrastructure committees. He was also a member of the Executive Policy Committee.
Mr. Morantz and his family established the Nathan Morantz Respite Care Fund in support of respite services in Manitoba and autism research.
Previously, Mr. Morantz served on the boards of Shalom Residences Assisted Living, the Refit Centre Foundation, Community Respite Services, Manitoba Families for Effective Autism Treatment (MFEAT), the Jewish National Fund, Young Adult Division, the Jewish Federation (CJA) Charitable Allocations Committee, and the Special Needs Steering Committee at the Gray Academy.
He has a degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He practiced law as a partner at Levene Tadman LLP in Winnipeg. During his tenure, Mr. Morantz acted as senior counsel to several large financial institutions and real estate management firms.
Analysis
Mr. Morantz has sought information on unannounced spending mentioned in the Fall Economic Statement and Budget 2023, and often asks for comparative figures between the federal government's estimates and that of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Other areas of questioning include domestic causes for inflation and the inflationary impact of various government initiatives. In line with his party’s position, Mr. Morantz is a vocal opponent to additional government spending, the “carbon tax”.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
Mr. Morantz introduced Bill C-240, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (donations involving private corporation shares or real estate), which was defeated at Second Reading in the House of Commons in June 2022. The bill aimed to provide an exemption from capital gains tax in respect of certain arm's length dispositions resulting from the donation of real estate or private corporation shares to charities.
Bloc Québécois
Gabriel Ste-Marie, Vice-Chair
Conservative, Joliette (Québec)
Biography
Gabriel Ste-Marie has been the Member of Parliament for Joliette since 2015. He currently serves as the Bloc Québécois Critic for Finance and the Treasury Board.
In Parliament, Mr. Ste-Marie has worked on initiatives to address tax evasion and tax loopholes. He has spoken in defense of Quebec's supply-managed producers in the House of Commons, calling for their full compensation for losses related to free trade agreements with Europe, the Pacific and North America.
Prior to his election, Mr. Ste-Marie was researcher at the Contemporary Economics Research Institute and lecturer at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He worked for France Inter in 2017. He also worked in Washington, DC, to garner support for Quebec's aluminum steel industries.Analysis
In committee, Mr. Ste-Marie's questions often relate to the effectiveness and efficiency of government programs, notably the impact of funding on government service delivery and related data. He regularly asks how a given program/initiative will affect Quebec and its programs.
Mr. Ste-Marie has expressed interest in seniors, particularly those in the low-income bracket. In line with his party's position, he has advocated to lower Old Age Security to 65 years and over. His interests also include combatting tax evasion, strengthening general anti-avoidance rules, promoting competition in Canada, and labour market issues.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In the 42nd Parliament, Mr. Ste-Marie introduced motion M-42 in 2016 to end tax evasion in Barbados by Canadian companies. The motion was defeated in a recorded vote.
New Democratic Party
Daniel Blaikie
New Democratic Party, Elmwood-Transcona (Manitoba)
Biography
Daniel Blaikie has been the Member of Parliament for Elmwood-Transcona since 2015. He currently serves as the NDP Critic for Finance, Employment and Workforce Development and Democratic Reform.
He previously worked as an advisor to the Manitoba Minister of Health during the NDP government of Gary Doer (1999-2009).
An electrician by trade, Daniel earned his certification as a construction electrician after completing a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg and a master's degree in philosophy from Concordia University. Mr. Blaikie was also a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and active member of the labour movement.
Analysis
Mr. Blaikie has expressed interest in enhancing the government’s transparency around costs/revenues and ways to address and recoup revenue from tax avoidance. In line with his party's position, he is a vocal opponent of real estate speculation and "profiteering", citing grocery store chains and the oil and gas industry. In the House, he introduced a motion to extend the Canada Recovery Dividend (introduced in Bill C-32, Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022) to the oil and gas sector.
In September 2023, Mr. Blaikie initiated a committee study public policy decisions and market forces that have led to steep increases in the cost of buying or renting a home in Canada. In the context of this study, he regularly spoke to the need for the federal government to play a key role in affordable housing, particularly around social and cooperative housing.
Private Members' Bills and Motions
In September 2022, Mr. Blaikie introduced Bill C-298, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (economic substance), which currently sits outside the Order of Precedence. The bill aims to deem certain avoidance transactions to be a misuse of provisions providing for tax benefits.
He also introduced Bill C-225, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (pension plans and group insurance plans), which currently sits outside of the Order of Precedence. Similar to his own bill, Mr. Blaikie supported CPC MP Marilyn Gladu's Bill C-228, and introduced an amendment to guarantee termination and severance pay to employees. While this amendment was adopted in committee, it was ruled out of order by the Speaker and removed from the bill.