Evidence of meeting #59 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was unions.
A video is available from Parliament.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Credit Union Central of Canada
I'm not suggesting a specific period of time just yet, because we're still in the process of trying to figure it out.
November 19th, 2014 / 5:35 p.m.
Conservative
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I will come back to Mr. Yussuff and continue on the topic of employment insurance.
In 2007, just after the Conservatives came to power, the percentage of contributors to employment insurance who could receive benefits was 44%. Basically, 44% of people who contributed to employment insurance could claim benefits. Today, owing to access to benefits restrictions, that percentage has decreased to 38%. This means that four contributors out of ten can obtain employment insurance benefits, and this explains a large part of the surplus currently being used by the government to give employers a premium holiday.
Is my analysis correct?
President, Canadian Labour Congress
Your analysis is absolutely correct. I think what's unfortunate here is that there's an expectation among workers that paying into the system, they will get a benefit at some point if they lose their job, or get access to training in that regard. We're seeing consistently across this country, not just in the Toronto numbers that I've stated but right across this country, that workers are less and less able to access the system when they do lose their jobs, much less getting any benefit out of the system, because the restrictions are so high for them to qualify to get benefits.
It essentially is taxation without any representation. They get no access to benefits despite the fact that they continue to pay on a consistent basis.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
The measure proposed by the government to give a premium holiday to companies that pay less than $15,000 in premiums only targets small companies and does not include any conditions with regard to creating jobs. At the end of the day, employees do not get premium holidays. Could you comment on that? Will such a measure be effective?
President, Canadian Labour Congress
Well, with our analysis, we use a more balanced source for our information. We could give you our own, but the Parliamentary Budget Office said it's likely to create 800 jobs for $500 million in the benefits that will be received by small businesses. We think it's quite unfortunate, given the fact that such a huge swath of workers across this country is not accessing benefits. For that amount of money, it seems to me it's quite unfair that the workers were not brought into the equation.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
You've done analysis, you said? Can you share with us some insights on...? We know that the CFIB actually had a study. We know that the Parliamentary Budget Officer actually has a study. You've studied as well the impact of this measure.
President, Canadian Labour Congress
Our numbers are very close to the Parliamentary Budget Office numbers in regard to job creation.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
So about 800 for 550 million dollars' worth.
President, Canadian Labour Congress
Yes. I think actually you could hire people and get more out of that $500 million if you tried.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Have you analyzed the study from the CFIB on this?
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Okay, so only the parliamentary budget director, using multipliers, using modelization...?
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Have you forwarded these conclusions to the government?
President, Canadian Labour Congress
I'm here to tell you the story, because I don't think it will make much difference.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Merci, monsieur Caron.
I'll take the start of the next round, and if I have time, I think I'll share with Mr. Allen.
Dr. Taylor, I appreciate your being here, and I appreciate your clarifying it, because I think there were some issues raised about some of the changes. I think there was a lack of clarity with respect to the changes that were here, whether you supported them or not. Some of the commentary seemed to indicate that it would diminish your role, that it would diminish the influence you would have, that it would diminish the advice. I'm glad Mr. Rankin clarified the issue with respect to the fact that you still will be able to speak directly to Canadians. I appreciate that very much.
I just want to ask if you can state clearly again that these changes will not in any way diminish your role as chief public health officer.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Not at all; in fact I report directly to the Minister of Health, so I'm on equal footing with the president. The two of us report, so we now have two people working full time to run the agency and run outbreaks, for example.
If anything, it will enhance the role of the chief public health officer, because I can exclusively focus on ebola, on public health issues, on speaking to Canadians, on international connections, with the provinces and territories.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
That's right. She takes care of that and I get to focus on public health.
