Evidence of meeting #61 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was insurance.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
Yes. I think we need to remember that we're all on the same page here. We've recognized that there's a problem. We all want to do something about it. I think the difference is...I believe it's another example, in a sense, of an ad hoc approach to policy development that we keep running into in this committee in the private members' business we've been discussing.
To Mr. Eyking's credit, he came forward with a private member's bill that definitely has raised awareness, and I think that's really important. Now we have to decide on the soundness of the policy. That's my biggest concern right now.
Speaking to the ad hoc part of this, we had no departmental officials as witnesses yesterday. That doesn't make sense, and it was you guys who decided that. We did bring it up.
The question I have in terms of the politics of this is we talked about CPP disability and agreed to do a CPP disability study. Again, it was a private member's motion brought up by a Liberal member, and then I believe it was Mr. Lessard who introduced an amendment to push it back to the fall instead of doing it in the spring, something that would have helped us in this process. I don't understand.
We'd still like to do it before the spring and report back in the spring. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think so.
On the Liberal side, the question I have, and I know it comes up time and time again, is in 13 years of government--in the majority for 11 years--you could have done anything you wanted to do, and you've chosen to bring it up now in a private member's bill. Again, it's ad hoc. We need to bring back some reasonable thought to the process in terms of how we approach these things, so that we actually accomplish something for the people we're trying to help.
We heard some real examples yesterday of some desperate need in this area. The department has talked about the fact that they are looking into this right now. As we speak, they're looking into solutions for this. I know the minister's office is looking into solutions for this. We also have opportunities in this committee to work alongside and try to find solutions.
I think we need to focus on doing the right thing here.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. The last person I have on this list, I'm hoping, is Mr. Chong.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll go back to one of the points I've already made, because I've always found that dispassionate reason is the best way to approach things.
Many, many Canadians are not eligible for employment insurance benefits. The evidence I have heard anecdotally and from stakeholders in the greater Toronto area is that those Canadians are disproportionately immigrants.
As recent studies have shown, immigrants to Canada, especially in places like the greater Toronto area, are being affected by a lack of economic opportunities. They are increasingly struggling to find the jobs they have come to Canada for, and they are facing many challenges and various social economic indicators.
Therefore, extending sickness benefits from 15 to 50 weeks widens the inequality between those Canadians who are not eligible for employment insurance, especially immigrants in the greater Toronto area, and those Canadians who are.
For that reason I don't think we should exacerbate the inequality gap by passing this piece of legislation. Thank you.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. If those are all the speakers we have, then I'm going to ask the question.
Shall clause 1 carry?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
A recorded vote, please.
(Clause 1 agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
4:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
That's all the business we have today. The meeting is adjourned.