Finance Committee on Sept. 25th, 2017

[Hassan Yussuff]

Of course, there are trade-offs. I do respect you for asking the question and making the point you do.

I do think fundamentally it's not going to be as dramatic in regard to the changes that have been proposed as been suggested.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. McLeod.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think I lost some time there.

My question is for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I really appreciate your program. I think there is so much we need to do with youth. I have worked with youth on many different levels and capacities over the years. One of the issues is always the ability to attract mentors. I was wondering if you could just talk a little about incentives that would maybe help us in that area.

Maybe it could be some tax breaks, maybe things that could make it fiscally a little more attractive for people to come and work with youth. I work with aboriginal people a lot. A lot of the elders who are on a fixed income, old age security, say if they do get any kind of compensation for their time, they are taxed on it. It's a small amount.

Is there a way you can change it? I think that applies to other organizations, and other mentors, especially the elderly.

[Peter Coleridge]

I think it's a very good idea. It's something we could look into.

Our focus has been trying to develop this pan-Canadian strategy and roll that out. Within that, this kind of tax break would very beneficial in terms of attracting volunteer mentors. There are numerous other ways we've been doing that as well, in terms of engaging corporate Canada, LinkedIn, and others, as a means to recruit volunteer mentors, but the tax break idea is a very good one.

While I have the mike, I'd also like to respond to the comment earlier.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

I'd like to ask my questions, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We'll give you time. We'll allow three minutes over.

Go ahead.

[Peter Coleridge]

I just want to say that in any kind of research there are varying perspectives, and the overwhelming research in the area of mentoring is quite positive and impactful. There are some studies that show there's minimal effect, but overwhelmingly it's there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. McLeod.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I saw everybody was looking at their watch and becoming impatient to get out of here, but I want to point out that there is a crisis with youth in the north.

[Peter Coleridge]

Yes.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

We are experiencing a suicide probably every 10 days. There is a lot that needs to happen. We are seeing the fallout from residential schools; we're seeing the issue of mental health growing, drug use is becoming rampant in every community, even the tiniest of communities; the sexual abuse continues.

We're also seeing the cultural disconnect. Climate change is having an effect. What the elders used to tell the youth is no longer relevant, because climate change has changed everything so drastically. For technology, of course, it is easier to ask Google a question than to find an elder to put the question to.

I want to ask you what, in your opinion, would be the most culturally appropriate way to deliver the indigenous youth mentorship funding that you proposed in your submission?

[Peter Coleridge]

We have a very innovative program in Saskatchewan in which we do this, and we would use it as one potential model. All of our work within the indigenous community is in partnership with various organizations in those indigenous communities. We also have an e-mentoring program for the indigenous population. We partner with many local organizations, so the funding would flow through those organizations to implement the programs and to develop culturally sensitive programs for indigenous youth, with indigenous youth, and with the organizations providing service to them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Could you send us the information on that program in Saskatchewan?

[Peter Coleridge]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Send it to the clerk; then Michael can get it.

I have one quick question, to Mr. Prouse.

I am intrigued by your proposal on the CFIA and PMRA. Having dealt with those two agencies for many years, I think this is a great idea, in which you're basically saying we can meet productivity and competitiveness in the agricultural community. We can exercise the Barton committee report.

However, there's a problem. The theory and the rules in Ottawa just don't match the practicality of working on the ground in those industries. How, then, do you see making the two come together? You're not asking for money, but I know how hard it is to try to change that system. How do you propose to do it such that we can get things with PMRA and CFIA done faster?

[Dennis Prouse]

As I say, right now they look somewhat siloed. Here's the government talking about the Barton report, and there's discussion on innovation. In the meantime, there are regulatory agencies that aren't seized with it. What we want is for this to be written into their mandate.

To give you a “for instance”, in PMRA's strategic plan there used to be reference to this, right up to a few years ago. Well, it's gone now; there is no longer a reference to that level of commercialization.

These regulators are very good professionals. We just think that if commercialization and making Canada competitive internationally are written into their mandate.... These are very bright, committed professionals. We think they can walk and chew gum at the same time just fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Okay. That's a good suggestion.

Thank you all very much for your presentations and your questions.

Just to remind committee, tomorrow morning at 9:00 we meet the Finnish parliamentarians, and at 10:00 and for pretty much the rest of the day, we have meetings.

We'll see you all at 9:00 a.m.

This meeting is adjourned.