Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The motion reads as follows:That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Finance undertake a study on the benefits and potential impacts of introducing a guaranteed minimum income, and that the Committee report its findings to the House by Friday, February 17, 2017.
By establishing February 17, 2017, as the date, the intent was first to set a date that would not be in conflict with the budget speech, which is usually at the end of February or at the beginning of March. This motion is similar to the one moved previously. I think there have been discussions to determine whether it was in order.
I would say this at least has to be accepted as something we can vote on. The reason is that when the initial motion I presented was voted down, it was with the understanding that a letter would be sent and that the human resources committee would take on the study of this issue. We haven't heard officially from that committee. I've spoken to members of the human resources committee. They haven't even discussed or officially received the letter as a committee. So it's problematic. It seems that the human resources committee does not have this issue as a priority, which I think makes it relevant to bring it back to the finance committee. We're talking about what impact a guaranteed minimum income, or basic income or whatever we want to call it, would have. It will definitely have a financial impact.
If we're studying issues of EI and issues of veterans affairs during the budget, which should have been discussed in those committees, this issue should actually be addressed by the finance committee.
I'd also like to remind my Liberal friends on the committee that in both their 2012 convention and their last convention, Liberal members agreed to a motion to study a basic income and to implement a basic income pilot. So it might be something that would be welcomed by the Liberal members of this committee.
I've also seen the proposal.... I'll wait with this.
I just think that right now we should make a decision to discuss it in the finance committee, and if the members don't want to take the time in finance, we could strike a subcommittee to discuss the study outside of the realm of finance. I'm open to this possibility. I just want it to be addressed. I'm not even saying that I'm in favour of or opposed to it, but it is something that is being debated out there, and we should fulfill our responsibility to address this issue and give some of these questions the answers they deserve.