News release

May 1st, 2002

Roy Cullen M.P. introduces legislation respecting user fees.

ETOBICOKE - Roy Cullen, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North, introduced An Act Respecting User Fees this afternoon during Private Members' Business in the House of Commons.

"While I fully support the requirement for government departments and agencies to recover costs through user fees for private goods and services, there needs to be more transparency, accountability and oversight by the House of Commons and the Parliament of Canada," Cullen said. The key points of the Bill call for:

· The need for more parliamentary oversight when user fees are introduced or changed;
· The need for greater stakeholder participation in the fee-setting process;
· Improved linkages between user fees, and federal department and agency performance specifications and standards;
· The requirement for more comprehensive stakeholder impact and competitiveness analysis when new user fees, or fee increases, are contemplated;
· The goal of increased transparency addressing why fees are applicable, what fees are charged, what costs are identified as recoverable, and whether performance standards are being met;
· An independent dispute resolution process to address the complaints or grievances of the payers of user fees; and,
· The need for an annual report outlining all user fees in effect that would be tabled in the House of Commons, and referred to the appropriate Committee of the House (Finance).

This important issue is to be revisited later this month by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. It is anticipated that An Act Respecting User Fees will be debated in the House of Commons during the fall session.

For more information, please contact:

Ryan Hordy, Executive Assistant
Room 317, West Block
613-995-4702