Finance Committee on May 29th, 2012

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses for appearing. There are a couple of things I want to check on while we're on Mr. Sommers.

Mr. Sommers, give me a budget implementation act in the past that is exactly as you've suggested—one that included nothing else—because I believe and our records show that most budget bills.... In fact it was commonplace to have the housekeeping measures and Supreme Court decisions, etc. Can you give me an example of some bills in the past that do exactly as you've said and contained only budgetary measures that affect expenses?

[Tyler Sommers]

Off the top of my head I can't think of any, but that doesn't means we shouldn't move ahead and attempt to do this—

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Right. But the reason there aren't any is that Parliament must be efficient in dealing with the issues at hand for Canadians, which is why, traditionally and very commonly, budgets are the measure by which we move forward in an efficient manner to protect the safety and security of Canadians, and other things.

Having said that, I do want to turn my attention to M. Poirier.

Mr. Poirier, I come from Saint-Boniface, where there are a lot of Poirier. Welcome.

I was listening intently, but I might have missed what you said about the number of positions. What was the number? Was it 26,000 positions you claim are going to be eliminated?

[Claude Poirier]

The official figure—

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

No. Just the number, sir, because I only have five minutes.

[Claude Poirier]

—is 19,200 jobs, as stated in the budget.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Yes, but you said 26,000 in your presentation.

[Claude Poirier]

I said 29,600, which is reality.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Okay, 29,600, and then you said something about 30,000 families.

[Claude Poirier]

Yes. I was rounding the figure.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

You were rounding up.

[Claude Poirier]

Yes, I was rounding up by 400.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I'm trying to understand your organization's predictions because they change so frequently. I'm having a hard time keeping track. Let me be very straightforward with you.

Before the tabling of the budget, your organization released a report that predicted that the budget would eliminate 116,000 jobs. Then following the tabling of budget 2012, you admitted that you were wrong and lowered the number by half to about 60,000. Now, here today you say 29,600 jobs and then you also round that up and say 30,000 families.

Your numbers, frankly sir, leave me without much confidence in what you have to say. I'm making a comment, not asking a question, but you can see how most Canadians are looking at what you're saying with some confusion. I'll leave it at that.

Nevertheless, I would like to turn my attention to Mr. Oakey. Mr. Oakey, you come from the construction industry, and I would like you to tell us very briefly about the shortages of skilled tradespeople and general skill shortages in your industry. Then I'd like you to comment about how you think the changes to EI and immigration might help address your shortages.

[Terrance Oakey]

Sure. I'd be happy to do that.

Our industry faces an acute labour shortage, especially in Alberta, but it will soon be spreading to other places in the country. We fully support changes to the temporary foreign worker program that Minister Kenney announced. We also support changes to the immigration system.

Temporary foreign workers for our industry are the most expensive form of labour that we can source, so we use them as a last resort. That being said, though, we will have a 300,000 person shortage by the end of decade, so something must be done.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Sorry, did you say you will be 300,000 persons short by the end of the decade?

[Terrance Oakey]

Yes.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

That's what you're expecting?

[Terrance Oakey]

Yes. The Construction Sector Council of Canada has put out a report saying that roughly 300,000 skilled tradespeople in addition to what we already have will be needed by the end of the decade.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

So these measures in Bill C-38 will help, in your opinion, to fill those 300,000 some jobs.

[Terrance Oakey]

Yes.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

And will the EI changes as well be helpful?

[Terrance Oakey]

Yes. We haven't commented specifically on the EI changes. I haven't had a chance to look at the details on them, but anything that encourages people to fill a job that is available is something we would support, because we have such an acute labour shortage in construction. I can't speak for the other industries that are here.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Okay. Do I have...?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

You have 30 seconds.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

Is there anything else you would like to say, Mr. Oakey? Is there anything else about this bill that you would like to highlight for us today, given that I only have 20 seconds left?