I have no recollection of that.
Evidence of meeting #41 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was volunteer.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #41 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was volunteer.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
I have no recollection of that.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
All right.
So now we know that this whole thing originated with WE, and that it was then adapted slightly to meet the political demands of the government. Who was it who told you to work on a Canada student grant like this? Was it your deputy?
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mr. Chair, as I explained in my remarks, there were, in a very brief time, in the context of the crisis, back in April, a few days—
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
If I could finish—
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Mr. Poilievre, give Ms. Wernick the time to respond, if you could. We will not take time away from you.
Go ahead, Ms. Wernick.
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
There was a very rapid period of a few days in which officials were working very hard to quickly assess options and possibilities for a student and youth package announcement. It was in that context that I was asked by my associate deputy minister, in collaboration with officials at the Department of Finance, to provide some options, assessments and information, given my lead on the Canada service corps program file.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
This is way off of my.... It sounds like it was an associate deputy minister who asked you to do that. That was all I needed to know.
There is a proposal from WE. Who first gave you that proposal?
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
The proposal—
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mr. Chair, I received a proposal from Craig Kielburger on April 22.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
I received it by email, Mr. Chair.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Did he mention if he had spoken to other members of the government about it?
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
I have no recollection of that.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Was the proposal at that time for the government to provide a grant for volunteer positions?
4:35 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
To the best of my recollection, no, it was emphasizing still some placements for youth related to social entrepreneurship and additional placements for youth related to service in their communities.
July 16th, 2020 / 4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
In the final proposal that went through cabinet, how many positions were going to be created for the proposed budget of $912 million?
4:40 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mr. Chair, as you know, I am not able to speak to cabinet confidence of what's in a cabinet document.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
No, but the proposal was made public. There was a public proposal to spend $912 million on creating student service grants. How many students would have had positions?
4:40 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
The way the proposal was designed was that, as was mentioned earlier I think, there was an envelope of funding put against payment of grants. The payment of the grants was going to be aligned with uptake by students and the completion of the necessary hours to get those grants.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We're out of time on this round, but, Mr. Poilievre, stick with me for a minute, will you?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I do see some “unclarity”. It's not a right word, I guess, but I do see some problems here.
I thought in your remarks, Ms. Wernick, you indicated that you approached WE. In his statement a minute ago, Mr. Poilievre basically said—I might not have this, Pierre, so you can correct me if I'm wrong—that the proposal originated with WE to meet the political demand or desire—I don't know which word was used—of the government. We're miles apart on those two statements.
Is that statement correct that the proposal originated with WE, or did you, as I believe you indicated in your remarks, make the first initiative to talk to WE as one of the organizations? Where are we at here? Let's establish the foundation so that we're actually dealing with facts here, if we could.
Ms. Wernick, can you clarify where we're at?
4:40 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes, Minister...or Mr. Chair.