Human Resources Committee on April 11th, 2024

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I understand your point of view, which is also interesting. In fact, I'd like to thank all your members for feeding Canadians and Quebeckers and exporting their products around the world. We're very proud of all the work you do. That said, the bill already provides for exceptions and exemptions. In particular, subcontractors who were hired before the notice to bargain was sent and managers could continue to do their jobs during a strike or lockout. So there are already some exceptions for work to continue.

For you, is it still a good thing?

[Brodie Berrigan]

Thank you for the question.

I would just say that there is in fact an exemption, as Todd mentioned in his opening remarks, that was negotiated back in 1998 when then minister of labour Lawrence MacAulay was responsible for this file, that exempted the bulk shipment of grain. What we would say on behalf of our members is that we're seeing some shifts in the industry where increasingly there's a reliance on container shipment. That trend has increased quite a bit from the time that original exemption was put in place, and those container shipments are not captured by that exemption, in addition to perishable goods. That only applies to the bulk shipment of grain, but not to any sort of perishable goods like frozen meat products that are sitting in containers, fresh produce, which can have a huge economic impact.

Also, I would argue, and the evidence has been clear, that that contributed to a significant amount of food loss and food waste. For a country and a government that has signed on to the sustainable development goals of wanting to minimize food loss waste, then that's contradictory to that ultimate objective.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Boulerice.

We have Ms. Ferreri for five minutes.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you so much, Chair.

Thank you so much to the witnesses for being here—two of my favourite groups in Canada, farmers and small businesses.

And this is not to dismiss you, Derrick—I'm sorry. You are also representing great people too.

I think there is one thing that really jumps out at me when we look at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, or CFIB, which we have here today. Could you really quickly, because we have limited time, give an example of those businesses across Canada? Isn't 98% of Canada's economy fuelled by small businesses? Is that not a fair...? Basically, I'm just thinking of your giving us an example of anybody who is a small business. Restaurants, all those things, would fall under small businesses.

[Jasmin Guénette]

Yes, our members are in retail; so small mom and pop shops. Our members are small construction companies. Our members are also in agriculture. Our members are in wholesale, manufacturing. Our members are in the hospitality sectors. Seventy per cent of our members are businesses with under 10 employees. CFIB represents the smallest of the smallest. In the last few years when there were strikes at the Port of Montreal and the B.C. ports, we have seen this having an incredible impact on many of those businesses not being able to receive their goods or to ship out their products or goods. CFIB is worried about this bill—and again, we represent those small businesses that we all have in our communities, serving our people and employing our people as well.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

To that point, like I said, small businesses are definitely the heartbeat. You mentioned in your comments earlier about morale and feelings. What we see even in my small downtown of Peterborough are closures and a mass exodus. Every week, every month, more and more people can't sustain their businesses, because of the debt, which my colleague referred to as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I guess I'll interrupt. The bells are ringing in the House. It's a 30-minute bell. I need unanimous consent of the committee to continue.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Chair, there is no unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We have no unanimous consent from the committee. The bells are ringing in the House. The committee, by House of Commons rules, must have the unanimous consent of the members to continue when the bells are ringing. We do not have that. At this time, I do have to adjourn the meeting.

Committee members, the committee is adjourned.