Finance Committee on Oct. 6th, 2017

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

We have the same challenges in the north on services for first nations. Ours is a little more serious, I think, because we don't have reserves. We have aboriginal communities, but they're public communities, so INAC or Indian Affairs doesn't really play a very big role. The aboriginal communities are not tax-based, but there are regional centres that are tax-based. They have the ambulances and they have the fire trucks, yet all of the surrounding communities don't have anything. The call-outs to the other communities are growing and growing, to the point where they're servicing the aboriginal communities more than they are the community they're based in, and nobody's paying for that.

You flagged that in your presentation, and I'm really curious to know how serious that issue is. What percentage of call-outs do you think may be going to fire response and ambulance?

[Ray Orb]

I'm not exactly sure of the stats on that. We know it's serious. It was actually precipitated by a real serious issue in the North Battleford area not too many years ago. If you recall, there was a town that was looking after the fire coverage. They didn't have an agreement with the first nation, so they didn't go to put out the fire. Unfortunately, a couple of young girls died in the fire. It prompted us and SUMA, our sister organization, the urban association, to sit down. We meet probably three or four times a year. We meet with INAC and we meet with the provincial public safety minister as well.

We've come up with an idea, and we've met with several people in Ottawa. We've been trying to get this fund.... Maybe Mr. Easter can help us with this, and some of the other MPs. We've met with Senator Lillian Dyck. Actually, two days ago I was in Ottawa, and we met with her again to reinforce this idea. Another one is Georgina Jolibois. We met with her. She meets with us in Saskatoon.

It's a serious issue. We need to get the federal government, and I think each province, to put in some funding to create some protection.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

Maybe that's something we can raise with the indigenous caucus, too, as something that needs some attention.

Broadband access is an interesting one. I represent a riding where we have a lot of communities that are isolated. The definition of “isolation” is starting to include the lack of broadband. Many youths are pointing to that as real isolation: if you can't use your cellphone, or do text messaging, then you really are isolated. I think we need to do a lot more in that area.

Most of the presenters who've represented municipalities have talked about a shortage of housing. Is that something you're experiencing in the areas you represent?

[Ray Orb]

To tell you the truth, it's not as much of an issue for us as it is in the urban centres—I represent the rural—but in my region it is an issue.

If the federal government can develop some programs with the provinces in creating a national housing strategy, we really believe that, in effect, we can keep a lot of our seniors, a lot of people who can't afford...from moving into the cities. Maybe it has to be subsidized housing in some cases. You heard Mayor Nenshi a while ago talk about the seriousness of this in the cities of Calgary, Vancouver, and all the big cities across the country. We think we need to help in that way.

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

We're certainly experiencing outmigration from all our small communities, to the point where we may have to start turning off the lights and closing the doors on some of these small communities.

I have a quick question for SAIT.

I listened to your presentation, and I really like what you're doing. I agree that the foreign student focus is good. I didn't hear you say a whole lot about an indigenous focus or indigenous student enrolment.

As an aboriginal person, I have to look at everything through an indigenous lens. There are crisis situations in our populations, addictions, and everything else, but education is the key for us. It's our way forward. We really have to work hard to make sure that our students are able and prepared to go into post-secondary education, but we also need the institutions to reach out a little bit. We've heard from institutions that are doing that. Maybe I could get you to say a little bit on what you guys are doing.

[Dr. Alex Zahavich]

Absolutely. I appreciate the question because that is one of the strengths of SAIT today. One of the most daunting things for the aboriginal community is coming into the big city. We have set up a very deliberate strategy. We actually have on campus, built into our facility, something called the Chinook Lodge. It is a gathering place for aboriginal students to come to, respecting some of the challenges that they bring, both in coming from a rural to an urban centre but also from some of the family support that may be lacking. We provide that family support through the community we create with our...and we do have an aboriginal coordinator on staff full time as part of that.

At the same time, in the specific area that I represent, we do training outside of SAIT, outside of Calgary, with the Samson Cree Nation, as well as with the Tsuut'ina Nation, especially as they are growing their hospitality programs and things like that. We actually go out into the community and train with them. It's supported by the federal government through federal government funding, so we do have both outreach and support internally.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Do you want one more quick question?

[Michael McLeod, Liberal, Northwest Territories, NT]

I just wanted to ask Mr. Bloomer a quick question.

The pipeline discussions have been going on. The challenges around building pipelines and trying to get them permitted, and the regulatory process have been around for a long time.

Several years ago, the premier of the Northwest Territories stood up and said that if you want to look into building a pipeline, why don't you look north? We have a pipeline that has been permanent for several years, but I don't think the market conditions will allow it to happen. At the same time—and I think maybe you've answered my question to a point—supporting infrastructure will allow it to happen.

Now in the north, do you think it's realistic for us to think that we're going to get a pipeline at some point without a road, without a rail system, unless we get a subsidy?

[Chris Bloomer]

Well, I don't know about the subsidy part, but I know that ongoing development, certainly in Montney, Duvernay, northeast B.C., and so on, will lay the groundwork for the long-term ability to bring infrastructure up to the north.

This is a long-term game. One thing that we would like to see Canada commit to is that this is the business we're in. These resources will get developed over time. I think that in the long term, as that footprint moves, that's certainly a possibility, and it would be supported by markets, not subsidies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you, all.

I have just a quick question for you, Casey, and maybe Ray, as well.

You mentioned temporary foreign workers. I know there are real problems with the beef plants getting labour and getting in temporary foreign workers, to the extent that I think some of the plants were actually moving cattle to the U.S. for slaughter through their plant structures there.

Where is that situation now, and are the changes in Growing Forward 3 enough on agri-stability and agri-invest? What's the situation there?

[Casey Vander Ploeg]

On the labour front, I had a set of meetings in Ottawa last week with the parliamentary secretary for labour, and we delved into this issue in quite a bit of detail. You're right that there are upwards of 1,500 vacancies in beef plants across Canada. Of course, that means those plants aren't running efficiently. We all know what happens to plants that aren't efficient: there is always the threat of a closure. This is top of mind for the industry. I think there is some worry, some risk, in this area.

We are hopeful. The ESDC has struck out on the review process on aspects of the temporary foreign worker program. We're working closely with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council to provide input into that. I am strongly encouraged that on the beef-plant side we may be able to get a resolution of this issue sooner rather than later. That certainly is good news.

With respect to on-farm workers, the amount of red tape and administrivia associated with the temporary foreign worker program makes it difficult. We continue to hear reports that there is definitely a need to reduce red tape in program administration. We believe temporary foreign workers can serve as a gateway for immigration into this country. Those who are successful should be transitioned into permanent residents, and it acts as a good screening process for those who could succeed in Canada. Certainly, that's what our industry needs. We don't want temporary workers; we want permanent workers.

With respect to agri-stability and business risk initiatives, I'm unfortunately less verbose in that area. It's not a particular area in which I work. The president and CEO typically has more of a direct role in that. As an association, however, we're quite proud of the work we've done in that area, particularly at Lethbridge College. We've partnered with the college and the university to create a new program in business risk management in agriculture and to provide certification for people in that program. It continues to be an ongoing topic of discussion, because we all know the risks inherent in agriculture, and government needs to provide the essential backstop to ensure that investment continues in this field.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We heard it not just from this panel, but we also heard it in Ottawa, and we heard it in some of the other locations that we went to, and I expect we'll continue to hear about issues beyond budget dollars, if I could put it that way, that really impact the economy and the ability to invest. We've increasingly heard, more than I've ever heard in the last two budget rounds, about issues beyond budget dollars. I'm not exactly sure how we'll handle that in our report, but I think we must handle it. It's on regulatory reform, certainty, corporate tax issues. It's critical that we somehow get that message through to the government as a whole. I don't know how we'll do it, but we're going to have to try.

With that, I want to thank each and every panellist for their presentation. We had a good round of discussions.

We do have a couple of people here, I believe, for the open-mike session, so thank you, panellists.

We'll suspend for a couple of minutes and bring up the open-mike presenters.

The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We have a couple of people here for the open-mike session, Kenneth Goodall and Gillian Eloh.

Kenneth and Gillian, we only have the two of you, so come up and take a chair at the table.

We'll start with you, Kenneth. Welcome.

[Kenneth Goodall, As an Individual]

Thank you, Mr. Easter. I'm here on behalf of the National Association of Federal Retirees.

Secure retirements, strong health care, and a national seniors strategy are the best ways to help seniors and their families.

On retirement security, I urge the government to scrap Bill C-27. This bill would introduce a new type of pension plan, known as target benefit pensions, while taking away retirement security, and killing off good, defined benefit plans that people have worked for, paid for, and that bring benefits back to local and national economies.

For budget 2018, I believe the federal government should lead a national seniors strategy that includes a national plan for palliative and end-of-life care, better pharmacare for seniors, and a plan for continuing to tackle infrastructure investments for age-friendly communities and universal design standards.

The government should appoint a minister responsible for seniors to make sure public policy decisions are always viewed through a seniors lens.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you very much, Kenneth.

Gillian.

[Gillian Eloh, As an Individual]

Honourable members, where would you be without your education? Today, 130 million girls are not in school, not because they don't want to go, but because they are denied the right to do so.

Canada has the opportunity to put a stop to this crisis. With just 2¢ per Canadian per day, we can lead the way to providing every child with a quality education. Every dollar invested in an additional year of schooling generates earnings and health benefits of approximately $10 in low-income countries. It is also estimated that about one-third of the decrease in adult mortality since 1970 can be attributed to gains in the education of women and girls, and an additional year of schooling for girls generates an almost 12% increase in wages.

Let's invest in quality education for every girl in budget 2018.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you.

Did you want to introduce yourself too, Madam?

[Mary Keizer, As an Individual]

Sure. I'm here with Gillian this morning. We're representing that number in front of you, Mr. Easter, ONE.

We've come to support the mission of educating all women and girls because we know—and Mr. McLeod said it earlier—that education is the key for everyone. We'd be darn, rip-roaring mad if our daughters and granddaughters were denied the right to be educated.

Currently the government is contributing 2¢ a day for education. We're asking that that amount be per Canadian for education, and we're asking that it be doubled to 4¢ a day so that these women and girls can be educated.

We know that women educate their own families, and everybody needs an ideal to work for. If we don't educate people and get their minds busy on learning valuable things that they can put to use for society, they're going to find something. Somebody is going to educate them, and it might be a radicalization group like ISIS. Really, education is the key.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Okay, thank you very much.

Yes, Mr. Sorbara.

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

I just want to say thank you. We've had a number of people from ONE come to our committee meetings, but also I've been visited in my riding by one of the representatives there, and we had a long discussion about it. I thank you for raising the issue of the 130 million girls, specifically, who are not in school. As the father of two young girls who are in grade 1 and senior kindergarten, I appreciate your awareness campaign.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Before I adjourn—Pat has a much quicker ride home than the rest of us following this panel—I do want, on behalf of the committee as a whole, to thank all the other people and the members as well for this week of hearings in the west. There is the clerk, who works very hard on getting all the witnesses in, sometimes late into the night. Then there are cancellations and more additions, so I thank the clerk. I thank the analyst, Brett, for all the work that he does. There are the logistics people outside doing everything from arranging flights to organizing people to come to the panels. There are the translators in the translation booth who make sure that we follow the bilingualism policies of the country and that everything is translated. There is a full series of thank yous to go around.

With that we will adjourn this meeting, and we'll be on the eastern trip in a little over a week.

Thank you all. The meeting is adjourned.