Evidence of meeting #58 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was authority.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
It was very interesting. I forget the organization, but somebody said that there were three things, based on three major causes of poverty. Number one was finishing grade 12. Number two, although some of you might not agree with this, was getting married and staying married. Number three was staying away from drugs.
Have you implicated that into your study? Are you helping young people achieve that?
Legal Education and Outreach Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
Our focus is on a comprehensive federal anti-poverty plan that uses a human rights framework and recognizes that people have the dignity to be free from poverty and the right to be free from poverty. That's the principle we use within our work.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Van Kesteren.
Mr. Caron, you have the floor.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would also like to thank the witnesses for being with us today.
My question is for Ms. Zatylny. And I would just like to stress the fact that we have a limited amount of time.
I imagine that, as president of the association, you are quite familiar with port authorities and their history. My question is this. Why were port authorities initially not allowed to acquire federal real property?
President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
If I understand the question correctly, you're asking why it is the federal port authorities are now being given the opportunity—
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
No. Why were they prevented from doing so?
President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
It was less of a prevention than a lack of clarity in how the Canada Marine Act was initially drafted. There have been conflicting opinions as to whether federal port authorities could bid on and acquire federal real property. The current amendment is simply stating in law now that federal port authorities would be allowed to do so.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Very well.
I have asked public servants, government officials and department representatives this next question, but I would like to hear your take on the matter.
My region is home to a port authority in Sept-Îles, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence. And the Quebec City port is not that far away. Given how the amendment is drafted, could it allow Quebec City's or Sept-Îles's port authority to acquire the Rimouski port? After all, it is a federally owned property, is it not?
President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
Yes.
Without commenting on a specific port authority, I would say that the proposed amendment would indeed allow them to acquire such a port.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
So the same thing could happen to the Matane port or any other port belonging to Transport Canada.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Is there anything in the amendment that would prevent a port authority that is looking to expand its business from acquiring a port and then closing it, in order to gain a larger share of the regional market?
President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
The amendment is worded in such a way that nothing would prevent them from doing so. However, port authorities interested in acquiring federal real property would not plan to expand their business by acquiring a property that they would then have to turn around and sell.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
But the legislation could still have unintended negative effects owing to this amendment.
President, Association of Canadian Port Authorities
Conceivably, in the way that it is written, yes.
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you kindly.
Ms. Bliss, on Friday, I attended a dinner in my riding. Someone there told me, in a very neutral and not unkindly way, that an immigrant living next door was getting a bigger pension than her elderly father. I proceeded to ask her some questions and ascertained that the person she was talking about was, in fact, a refugee from eastern Europe who had come to Canada and whose refugee claim had just been accepted. The pension she was referring to was actually what the refugee was receiving in social assistance.
Would you say that lack of understanding is widespread? Could the proposed amendment allowing the provinces to eliminate the residency requirement give rise to that kind of lack of understanding?
Legal Education and Outreach Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
Thank you very much for that question.
I think that would certainly be accurate. There is a lack of understanding that informs the issue of social assistance and refugees, and certainly, in the way that this bill has been drafted with respect to these sections. I will say that refugees do not have access to a special kind of social assistance that other individuals do not have access to.
You're talking about a very vulnerable group of people. What this bill does is it potentially excludes that very vulnerable group of people from having the same access to basic needs that all other people in Canada have.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Just to be clear, this applies to refugee claimants, not those who have been denied refugee status. Is that correct?
Legal Education and Outreach Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
That's correct. The group of people that would be excluded by the bill is both refugee claimants and people who have been unsuccessful in their claims. But fundamentally, it is those refugee claimants that will be targeted by the bill.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Refugee claimants aren't allowed to work, given that they are not citizens or residents. What do social assistance benefits allow these claimants to do?
Legal Education and Outreach Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
Social assistance benefits allow them to feed and house themselves. It's as fundamental as that. As I mentioned in my presentation, these are individuals who often arrive in Canada with absolutely nothing, often with friends and family very far away. The social assistance benefits that they have access to right now will allow them to provide for those basic needs.
It's as fundamental as that.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you very much.
One last question for Mr. Askari. And this is something Mr. Macdonald brought up as well.
You talked about the multiplier effects of EI premiums and benefits. The government has reduced EI accessibility, allowing fewer people to access benefits, and raised premiums. That is extremely detrimental to the Canadian economy when you consider the fiscal multipliers, is it not?
Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer, Economic and Fiscal Analysis, Library of Parliament
Actually, it will have a temporary impact on the economy that will be offset later by a reduction in premium rates. So it does not have a permanent impact on the economy or the number of jobs.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Caron.
We'll go to Mr. Adler, for seven minutes, please.