Mandate

The mandate of standing committees, including the Standing Committee on Finance, is outlined in section 108(1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.  It states that standing committees are empowered:

to examine and enquire into all such matters as may be referred to them by the House of Commons;

to report from time to time and to print a brief appendix to any report, after the signature of the Chair, containing such opinions or recommendations, dissenting from the report or supplementary to it, as may be proposed by committee members;

and, except when the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to sit while the House is sitting, to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned, to sit jointly with other standing committees, to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by them, and to delegate to subcommittees all or any of their powers except the power to report directly to the House.

Additionally, certain standing committees, including the Standing Committee on Finance, are empowered:

to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the department or departments of government which are assigned to them from time to time by the House.

The Standing Committee on Finance also has the responsibility to consider budgetary policy.  As outlined in the Standing Orders:

Commencing on the first sitting day in September of each year, the Standing Committee on Finance shall be authorized to consider and make reports upon proposals regarding the budgetary policy of the government.  Any report or reports thereon may be made no later than the tenth sitting day before the last normal sitting day in December, as set forth in Standing Order 28(2).

The review of budgetary policy is called the Committee’s pre-budget consultations.  See the Frequently Asked Questions section for more information. 

top of page