MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 5, 2023 (86) [English] The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance met this day at 9:03 a.m., in room W110, 1 Wellington St., the chair, the Honourable Percy Mockler, presiding. Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dagenais, Forest, Gignac, Loffreda, MacAdam, Marshall, Mockler, Pate and Smith (9). Participating in the meeting: Shaowei Pu and André Léonard, analysts, Library of Parliament. Pursuant to the order of reference a dopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, the committee continued its examination of the Supplementary Estimates (

B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. WITNESSES: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Romy Bowers, President and Chief Executive Officer; André Charbonneau, Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Correctional Service Canada: Tony Matson, Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services; France Gratton, Assistant Commissioner, Correctional Operations and Programs; Jay Pyke, Acting Senior Deputy Commissioner.

Employment and Social Development Canada: Karen Robertson, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister; Brian Leonard, Director General and Deputy Chief Financial Officer; Karen Hall, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch; Susan Ingram, Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Strategy and Design, Benefits Delivery Modernization; Colette Kaminsky, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch; Michael MacPhee, Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program Branch, Service Canada; Chantal Marin-Comeau, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch; Elisha Ram, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch; Catherine Demers, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch (by videoconference); Christine McDowell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Citizen Service Branch (by videoconference).

Romy Bowers, Tony Matson and Ka ren Robertson each made a statement and , together with Susan Ingram, Michael MacPhee, Brian Leonard, Jay Pike, Michael MacPhee, Elisha Ram and Christine McDowell, answered questions. At 10:42 a.m., the committee suspended. At 10:44 a.m., the committee resumed. Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, June 8, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C -241,

An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of travel expenses for tradespersons). At 10:45 a.m., the committee suspended. At 10:46 a.m., pursuant to rule 12 -16(1)(d), the committee re sumed in camera to discuss a draft report. It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve th e final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill C -241, without amendment and with observations to the Senate, at the earliest opportunity, on division. At 10:57 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. ATTEST: Mireille K. Aubé Clerk of the Committee