Okay. That's all I have.
Evidence of meeting #60 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ppp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #60 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ppp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Like my colleague Mr. Marston, I have a few concerns about all this being condensed. You said that people's appeals will be heard in tribunals by one-person panels instead of three-person panels.
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That's correct.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
It was also said that a number of positions would be cut. Do you know how much the government will save by cutting all those positions and tribunals?
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
The expected savings of putting the social security tribunal in place are $25 million.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Thank you.
Are the new people who will be working at those tribunals already occupying positions now, or will everything be started over?
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
The individuals who currently are members of the panels will have the opportunity to compete and apply for the positions on the new panels.
NDP
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No, it's a competitive process.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Okay.
How many jobs will be cut in all? I think you talked about part-time positions, but how many jobs will be cut to end up with those 74 positions?
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
We're moving from just over 1,000 part-time panel members to 74 full-time panel members.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
All those who are currently members of tribunals work part time, correct? No one works full time or anything like that.
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That's correct.
NDP
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
The commissioners actually are full time. The EI commissioners are full-time positions.
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
There are two.
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
One for workers and one for employers.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
You estimate that the number of jobs lost is 900, including part-time positions. There are more than 1,000 employees or tribunal members, and there will be 74 positions. We are still talking about 926 jobs and more.
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
These are actually Governor in Council appointee positions, so we're moving from a thousand part-time members to 74. It's difficult to know how many of the existing part-time members may possibly be participating in the new tribunal until the process of staffing those positions is completed.
NDP
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
What do the part-time positions you mentioned represent in terms of hours?
Director General, Policy, Quality and Appeals Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I think right now they're working about two full days a month.