Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:20 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canada's Building Trades Unions
Thank you.
6:20 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
I'm going to ask the Canadian Taxpayers Federation a question, because that's in my wheelhouse, too.
Aaron, you mentioned before that one of the things you're concerned about is controlling public sector pay. What you may notice is that the Liberal government is gearing up next week or the week after to introduce legislation to repeal the work we did with respect to sick leave and replacing it with short-term disability.
Are there any comments on the move that the Liberal government's making, and what your perspective is from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation?
6:25 p.m.
Federal Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
With the change in government we watch closely the change in policy. With the new Treasury Board president, we certainly saw what he presented as a change in tone. We have no problems with changes in tone. That's entirely his prerogative.
As I stressed earlier, we don't begrudge union leaders advocating hard for their membership. That's what they're there to do. But the government must always bear in mind there are millions of other Canadians who do not work in the public service, and they rely on the government to represent their interests. They should drive as hard a bargain as the leaders they're negotiating with.
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You have time for one quick one. We'll go to Robert and then that will give him three minutes, and then we'll be closed.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
I'm going to give a shout-out to Mr. Louie. Acting Mayor Clark Somerville is the incoming president of FCM, I believe.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
He made a very good presentation to me in the riding, of course, talking about the difficulties with respect to the application process on infrastructure amounts. His points were well taken.
I thank you for being here today as well. It's good to see you again.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you very much.
I have three questions for three different people, so we'll all have to be very concise and share.
My first question is for Monsieur Wudrick of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
I was just wondering, should the federal government subsidize the oil and gas industry?
6:25 p.m.
Federal Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
We oppose subsidies to oil and gas, to aerospace, and to the auto sector. We oppose public sector subsidy of private sector businesses.
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thank you very much.
The next question is for Monsieur Smillie.
My question is related to apprentices.
It seems there are some employers in the construction industry who hire apprentices and others who do not. Some bear the unfair burden of training people, who are then cherry-picked by other companies. Do you believe that somehow the federal government should include in their infrastructure spending a requirement that companies actually have certain levels of apprentices within their group right across the board to ensure that there's a fair, level playing field?
6:25 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canada's Building Trades Unions
I would agree with that.
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB
Okay. This is going well.
I can just have an answer question.
6:25 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Canada's Building Trades Unions
Look, it's about what you want to do in terms of public policy to build Canada.
Yes, I would agree with your statement, and it shouldn't be a voluntary system that was put in by the previous government. It should be a mandatory system of including apprentices on federal government jobs.