Finance committee  Yes. Even my good friend beside me here. We're not monolithic. Most of our evidence has been based on all of the studies that have looked at the P3 experience and the cost of it over the long term. While there may be a short-term gain by getting others to be partners, what we have determined is that in the long term, the administration of a project costs more in the end after it's been built by a public-private partnership.

Finance committee  That would be one way to do it. As you know, this issue arose after the finance ministers had met in 2016 and agreed to the enhancement. Over time, when the government finally tabled the legislation for the enhancement, we were able to determine that the drop-out period, both for women's child-rearing years and disability, had not been included in the provisions.

Finance committee  Almost 13 years ago, Professor Harry Arthurs conducted a very extensive review of the Canada Labour Code, part 3, and provided the government at that time with a very detailed recommendation in which both the Canadian Labour Congress and FETCO, my counterparts in the employers organization, participated in.

Finance committee  Mr. Chair, you are supposed to be neutral and not express your views on these matters.

Finance committee  Thank you, sir. Chair and honourable members, good afternoon. First, on behalf of the three million members of the Canadian Labour Congress, I want to thank the committee for the opportunity to present our views on Bill C-74. We want to commend the government for two recent improvements to the working income tax benefit, WITB, now renamed the Canada workers benefit, CWB.

International Trade committee  We have said consistently since this program has been created that there's been consistent documentation about the abuse in the program. The government, of course, has taken some steps, but again we think we have to do more. The pathway to become a Canadian landed immigrant and to citizenship, I think, is one of the most positive developments.

International Trade committee  I don't know that for a fact, but we will obviously ask the department whether it has been submitted or not.

International Trade committee  I think that for the first time we have some standards to adhere to, as of course Colombia has too. I think that the Canadian government, in the complaint we filed, certainly found that Colombia had not met its commitment under the current free trade agreement with them. They're going to be travelling there because there are some laws they have passed that they have to repeal because they completely contradict what's in the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

International Trade committee  The agreement allows us to hold the other country to a certain standard. Equally, they can hold us to the same standard. It's not a one-way street, it works both ways. If we are not in compliance, we should be held accountable. In regard to this particular agreement, the question was asked earlier about the labour chapter that has been tabled in NAFTA.

International Trade committee  Angella, go ahead.

International Trade committee  Colombia has been, as you know, probably one of the most violent places on the planet for trade unionists. We've had more trade unionists killed in Colombia than in any country in the world. It's not just me saying that; it's a report of the ILO. They've established a process within the ILO to hold Colombia accountable to try to reduce this violence, and more importantly to try to change it.

International Trade committee  In the renegotiations of NAFTA one persistent challenge we face—in addition to the United States, despite the rhetoric—is that we have tabled probably the best labour chapter to say that if this truly is about how we improve the conditions, here is the power to do so. In terms of this new provision that has been tabled in the renegotiation, neither the Americans nor the Mexicans have yet acquiesced to Canada's demand.

International Trade committee  —and continue to not enforce their laws. I think that is where the frustration that has evolved in the last 20-something years of NAFTA has shown that it is a complete weakness. Peru, of course, and Chile.... We had a long-standing agreement with Chile. Most recently, the Chilean government made a major effort to reform labour laws in that country.

International Trade committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress and its 3.3 million members, we thank you for affording us the opportunity to present our views here today. As you know, the CLC brings together national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and labour councils across the country working in every sector in our economy, and in all occupations in all parts of our country.

Finance committee  I think that the changes that have been put forward are welcome. As you know, the section of the code that many of these provisions come from is part III, which is outdated by about 60 years. The Arthurs report was submitted quite some time ago, over a decade ago. Arthurs had reviewed and made some significant recommendations about how to upgrade part III of the code.