Evidence of meeting #22 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investment.
Vice-President, Policy and Government Relations, Toronto Board of Trade
Well, we are certainly very encouraged by that commitment. We are going to be working with the FCM, which is a great partner of ours, to make sure that in that broader municipal equation Canada's largest urban centres and their unique infrastructure needs are addressed. So we're looking forward to those conversations.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Great.
Moving forward from that one, I'm sorry that Mr. Brison has gone, because he continually talks about payroll taxes, and we regularly see the opposition—both Liberal and NDP—voting for 45-day work-years for EI, a very significant change to the structure of our EI system in terms of when benefits start to pay out.
I'd like a quick answer from the chamber and the retail sector. Does that particular bill—and you've probably seen it go through a number of times—give you concern?
Chief Economist, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
When it comes to duration of benefits and eligibility of benefits, in our view we need national criteria where eligibility and duration are constant across the country. It's important not to make access extremely easy, particularly at a time when we're facing labour shortages, and we're going to be facing labour shortages going forward. We need to encourage labour mobility. And in the EI system as it's currently structured, the incentives are not there for people to work and the incentives are not there for people to move to where the jobs may be. So we need to find a balance.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Thank you.
My last question is my own personal issue from British Columbia. This will go to the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada, and I know that the dealers association is perhaps more intimately involved with this issue. Coming from British Columbia, I have a huge concern with all these right-hand-drive, second-hand vehicles that are being imported into Canada. Is that of any issue to your organization? Mostly it's a safety concern, but I think also it has some impact.
President, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada
You're right, it is a safety concern, for sure, and it is a concern of our members as well. I think it's somewhat ironic that on the one hand we're moving to very aggressive greenhouse gas emission standards and emission standards generally for new vehicles, while on the other hand we're allowing these older right-hand-drive vehicles to come into Canada. So it is a concern, and we've had discussions with Transport Canada about it. We would like to get it addressed and get those vehicles off the road.
October 31st, 2011 / 2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Thank you.
And I'll bet I've used up my five minutes.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Maybe I've made everyone talk too quickly in terms of these certain issues.
This question I would put to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Regardless of the infrastructure needs throughout the country, and the timing of the different infrastructure needs, obviously when we have the opportunity, we move forward, like Building Canada. When we had to do stimulus, we moved forward.
Right now, of course, as you're aware, we're undergoing a comprehensive review of all the government services and programs. And I think that it's just good business practice any time, regardless of whether we're in a deficit or a surplus position. Do you have any comments in terms of this particular process that the government is undergoing right now?
Chief Economist, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
We're always calling for the government to undertake a thorough review of all government programs and services, figure out where efficiencies may be realized, and eliminate programs that are no longer serving their intended purpose. In order for us to get to a balanced budget, we need to rein in spending. You either rein in growth in spending or you find efficiencies. But we need to focus program spending and productivity-enhancing areas that are going to get the biggest bucks for the country going forward.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
To go back to that conversation originally, aboriginal education is important in universities, but we also have many programs like ASEP, which is supporting training for careers in mining and apprenticeships. So I don't think it's an either/or. I think we certainly need to support education in many ways.
Conservative
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
My question is for the representative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
The committee has travelled across Canada in recent weeks. In many places, as a result of what's called the door to Asia, the opening of the Northwest Passage and the mining operations in northern Canada and northern Quebec, we've seen people call for infrastructure. They have needs, necessities. At times, it boiled down to the simple matter of having an icebreaker in the port of Thunder Bay during winter so that business could be done, or in the telecommunications field, being able to exchange credit card information through computer links. However, these needs are not currently being met and no budget has been set aside to do so.
Don't you think certain investments definitely become necessary at some point because, otherwise, all economic development opportunities are blocked?
Chief Economist, Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Yes, thank you for your question.
The Canadian Chamber about a month or so ago released a paper on stimulating economic growth in northern communities, as well as remote communities. The paper is available on our website, and I'd be happy to provide it to the clerk for circulation. But, no question, the potential of remote communities, northern Canada, is phenomenal. We need to do a lot in terms of tapping the resources in those particular areas, but also figuring out other areas where we can stimulate growth in Canada's remote and northern communities to benefit Canada as a whole.
Investments will be needed, and there's no question about that either. But I'd be happy to provide you with a copy of that paper.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
My second question is for Mr. Smoke.
We are all aware of the social problems facing Canada's aboriginal communities. This is a moving, painful situation, and I believe you have an absolute right to access to education and to choice of subject matter. I'm leaving you all my remaining time so that you can speak and advocate that right.
National Aboriginal Student's Representative, Canadian Federation of Students, National Aboriginal Caucus
Thank you for the question.
What we're looking for is an increase of about an additional $260 million annually back into the program. What that can mean is approximately $400 billion invested back into the Canadian economy through personal investment as well as tax. I think the people I'm presenting with here today would benefit by supporting me in that, and everyone else.
We want to see people from our communities becoming doctors and teachers, and that way they can go back to their communities and provide a resource and role model for people from our communities to know that they too can go and become doctors, lawyers, teachers. That way we can have policy-makers so that we can understand the documents that we signed in the 1700s. Currently, with the system and the amount of funding that we have, that's not possible, and that's why we want to see a funding increase so that this is possible.
NDP
Alain Giguère NDP Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Mr. Smoke said something very interesting at one point. He said that university graduates could become models, could represent a solution to social problems.
I'll leave him the rest of my time to say more on that subject.
National Aboriginal Student's Representative, Canadian Federation of Students, National Aboriginal Caucus
Thank you.
One of the things we have noticed is that aboriginal women who have a university degree actually end up making more money than women of different races in Canada.
As well, on being a role model, aboriginal youth have the highest suicide rate amongst any cultural and age group in the entire world. They need to be able to see people of their own community be successful. When people are leaving and never going back, the cycle of poverty is continuing.
The hardships that people are enduring every day of their lives are--
National Aboriginal Student's Representative, Canadian Federation of Students, National Aboriginal Caucus
Absolutely. Sorry.
Role models? Absolutely. They're doctors, teachers, policy-makers, and others.
Thank you.
Conservative
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Thank you all for coming here.
Where did Mr. Adams go?
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
He walked out. He knew I was coming up next to ask my questions.
