The committee met at 1316 in room 151.

Committee business

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Good afternoon, everyone. I call the 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: Thank you, Chair. Good afternoon. Nice to see you. Nice to see you, MPP Fife.

I move that the committee enter closed session for the purpose of organizing committee business.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): You’ve heard the motion. Discussion? MPP Fife.

Ms. Catherine Fife: Thank you very much, Chair. As we all know, there’s absolutely no need for this committee to go in camera. This is basic committee business to set the schedule to review the fall economic statement, specifically Bill 146 which, ironically, does not contain the infrastructure bank that the government has been proposing.

Before we go in camera, I wonder if the government members might be able to let the finance committee and the public of Ontario know when we can expect more details on the proposed Ontario Infrastructure Bank with a price tag of $3 billion, which was highlighted in the fall economic statement document but not in Bill 146.

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

Ms. Catherine Fife: Just on the business of talking about organizing the work of this committee: I just wanted to give the committee notice—because that’s what colleagues do for each other—that we will be introducing an additional two or three dates for Toronto for budget consultation, because Toronto was actually left out of the budget schedule this session. So look for that on our work next week.

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

Mr. Terence Kernaghan: I did want to also point out for the committee that I understand the Minister of Finance did appear in St. Thomas, along with the member from Elgin–Middlesex–London, making it appear as though it was an official visit for pre-budget consultations. Unfortunately, the official opposition was not provided with that information, nor were we allowed to attend, nor were we provided any information that any deputants provided at that session.

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

Ms. Stephanie Bowman: There’s lots going on today, and one of the things going on is a lunch about breast cancer screening awareness. I would just like to again point out that while the government announced extending coverage for breast cancer to increase the age span, that there was also no mention of that in this bill. Again, it’s something I think the public should be aware of.

The Chair (Mr. Ernie Hardeman): Any further discussion? No further discussion. Shall I put the question? All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

We will now break for a few minutes while we clear the deck, so to speak.

The committee recessed at 1319 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