The committee met at 0900 in room 151.

Election of Chair

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Michael Bushara): Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. My name is Michael Bushara, and I’m the Clerk of the Committee.

Honourable members, it is my duty to call upon you to elect a Chair. Pursuant to standing order 119(b), the Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs shall be a member of the party forming the government. Are there any nominations? Mr. Anand.

Mr. Deepak Anand: I would like to nominate MPP Ernie Hardeman as the Chair of the committee.

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Michael Bushara): Mr. Anand has nominated MPP Hardeman. Mr. Hardeman, do you accept the nomination?

Mr. Ernie Hardeman: I’ll accept the nomination.

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Michael Bushara): Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed and Mr. Hardeman duly elected as the Chair of the committee. Would you please come up and assume the chair?

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): I would just like to point out that not only did I move to the front of the room, I moved to a much higher location. I’m now looking down on the committee, so I will lower it down just a touch. No, maybe I won’t. There—that’s much better.

I do want to thank the committee for the honour bestowed upon me. There was every opportunity for someone to jump up and nominate themselves, and we could have had an election. We thank you very much for doing that.

I just wanted to point out very quickly, I wear this nice lapel pin. I got it a long time back. It used to be the lapel pin that was handed out at the Legislature. I have a few left from many years ago. Everyone who supported me for the Chair, I was going to give them one of those, but I haven’t got them with me, so I’ll have to get them at another time. But I will see that each one of you gets one of those pins. Thank you very much for putting up with me again as Chair.

Election of Vice-Chair

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): With that, our next order of business, I believe, is a motion to appoint a Vice-Chair. MPP Gélinas.

M^me France Gélinas: Thank you, Chair, and congratulations on your election. I know you will be good. I have seen you in action before.

I move that MPP Terence Kernaghan be appointed Vice-Chair of the committee.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Any further debate? If there is no further debate, Mr. Kernaghan, do you accept the appointment?

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I do, with thanks.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Are the members ready to vote? All those in favour? All those opposed, if any? If not, congratulations on your appointment as Vice-Chair.

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: Thank you. I don’t have any pins to hand out, I’m afraid. Sorry.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Chair—

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Mr. Anand?

Mr. Deepak Anand: Just a quick question: Are we going to get similar pins, other pins, maybe, from the Vice-Chair as well?

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): I think if you check the finance department and the difference between the two, he’s likely going to refrain from that until some time in the future when he gets to be Chair.

Appointment of subcommittee

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): With that, our next item of business is on the agenda. It’s now my duty to entertain a motion to appoint a subcommittee on committee business. MPP Anand.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Thank you, Chair. First of all, congratulations to you for being appointed as Chair, and MPP Kernaghan, congratulations on being appointed as Vice-Chair.

I move that the subcommittee on committee business be appointed to meet from time to time at the call of the Chair, or at the request of any member thereof, to consider and report to the committee on the business of the committee;

That the presence of all members of the subcommittee is necessary to constitute a meeting; and

That the subcommittee be composed of the following members: the Chair as Chair, MPP Crawford, MPP Fife; and

That substitution be permitted on the subcommittee.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): MPP Anand has moved a motion to appoint the subcommittee on committee business. Is it there any debate or discussion on this motion? MPP France Gélinas.

M^me France Gélinas: I think he did very well, and I would be willing to support what he put forward.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Any further debate? If not, all those in favour? All those opposed, if any? Seeing none, the motion is carried.

We will now move into closed session to receive a briefing from the Clerk and the research officer as to committee business. With that, goodbye to our audience.

The committee recessed at 0906 and later continued in closed session.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Chair / Président

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre / London-Centre-Nord ND)

Mr. Deepak Anand (Mississauga–Malton PC)

Ms. Stephanie Bowman (Don Valley West / Don Valley-Ouest L)

Ms. Bobbi Ann Brady (Haldimand–Norfolk IND)

Mr. Rick Byers (Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound PC)

Mr. Stephen Crawford (Oakville PC)

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto (Mississauga–Lakeshore PC)

Mr. Andrew Dowie (Windsor–Tecumseh PC)

Ms. Catherine Fife (Waterloo ND)

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford PC)

Mr. Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre / London-Centre-Nord ND)

Mr. David Smith (Scarborough Centre / Scarborough-Centre PC)

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos (Oakville North–Burlington / Oakville-Nord–Burlington PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

M^me France Gélinas (Nickel Belt ND)

Mr. Matthew Rae (Perth–Wellington PC)

Clerk / Greffier

Mr. Michael Bushara

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Sandra Lopes, research officer,
Research Services

Mr. Nick Ruderman, research officer,
Research Services