The committee met at 0900 in room 151.

Committee business

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Good morning, everyone. I call this meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to order.

On the agenda for today we have consideration of committee business. Are there any motions members may wish to raise? MPP Crawford.

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Good morning, Chair. Good morning, members of the committee. I move that the committee enter closed session for the purpose of organizing committee business.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Any further discussion? MPP Fife.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Good morning, Chair. It’s lovely to see everybody here at finance committee this morning.

I just want to remind the committee members that the finance committee used to let us know what the meeting was about. I mean, it’s a small request, and it’s turned into this pattern of the government calling committee, no information—so I don’t know if I should bring the fall economic statement. I don’t know if I should bring all my research on the infrastructure bank. I don’t know if we’re talking about the budget schedule.

I just want the government members of this committee, please, to take it back to the House leader, and as a small gesture of common courtesy, just to let the committee members—the independent members, the official opposition—know what the meeting is about, because whatever we’re discussing at this committee impacts every Ontarian. It impacts the finances of this province, and you can trace the money and follow it all the way back to our individual committees.

It’s a small request, I think. I think it’s a polite request. I would even suggest, Chair, that it’s a parliamentary request.

And with that, obviously we’re going to move into closed session.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Further discussion? Is the committee ready to vote?

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

We will break for a few minutes to go into committee of the whole.

The committee recessed at 0903 and later continued in closed session.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Chair / Président

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Présidente

Ms. Catherine Fife (Waterloo ND)

Mr. Deepak Anand (Mississauga–Malton PC)

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

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

Mr. Stephen Crawford (Oakville PC)

Mr. Andrew Dowie (Windsor–Tecumseh PC)

Ms. Catherine Fife (Waterloo ND)

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford PC)

MPP Andrea Hazell (Scarborough-Guildwood L)

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)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Vanessa Kattar

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Heather Conklin, research officer,
Research Services