Human Resources Committee on June 13th, 2006

[Bonnie Brown, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

In actual fact, I marked the motions that had “study” or “examine” as the main verb in them, and I couldn't understand why we were going to debate these motions when we've just embarked on a study. I have to find this out because I'm new.

In any case, I thought all these motions--one, two, three, and four--should be referred to the end of the employability study, because in the interim, some other emergency type of thing may have emerged and we may want to throw that in the mix as well and then prioritize which one we actually want to do.

However, Mr. Lessard's motion isn't in the same category. It's not to begin a study that might take three or four months. It's just to have them back. So I think I wouldn't include it in my idea of pushing things off into the future. I think the committee should decide on Mr. Lessard's motion on its own.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay, thank you.

I guess the only question is, the way Mr. Lessard's motion appears right now is it is requesting that both ministers return before summer adjournment, but I believe our schedule is already filled up, so either an amendment would need to be made or we could vote on the motion the way it stands.

I do realize that what you just indicated to us is that they could come back as soon as possible. There would probably need to be an amendment made to that motion, and certainly it's at the will of the committee in terms of how we move forward on that.

The other thing I just want to propose to you is that we do have the AG with us on Thursday. Next week we will be sitting later in the evening. I realize there'll be more responsibility for everybody because of that. So I'm also wondering, in terms of next week, whether we want to hold both meetings--Tuesday and Thursday--with the possibility that on Thursday, at this point in time, either we possibly may not be here or people may be somewhat tired with all the extra work they're going to have.

Mr. Coderre.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

We're never tired from this party, so that's not the issue.

Let's be pragmatic. To have both, which would mean having two other sessions, I don't think is feasible. To have one at least I think would be a good idea.

I'm not a psychic, but I have a feeling that we'll finish next week. Do we have the capacity to do so? If you have the AG already, it means two more committee meetings, right?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

That's correct.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

We would then meet twice more with the ministers. I want at least one of them to appear before us, because the Minister of Labour has made so many outrageous statements that we could set him straight on several things. Since we were able to cover a lot of ground during our meeting with the Minister of Human Resources, she could come back in the fall. However, I would like to see the Minister of Labour again. I would like that very much. I want to know what my colleague thinks about this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Then do we want an amendment to have them say that they appear as soon as is possible? Obviously--

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay, the motion stands then.

Do I have any other comments on the motion?

The way the motion stands is:

Whereas the nature of the work of this Committee,

Whereas its members must have a full comprehension of the intentions of the ministers responsible for the questions under their scrutiny,

That the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and the Minister of Labour appear again before the Committee, individually, before the Summer adjournment.

I just want to re-emphasize to the committee that we already are booked now for the last three meetings.

Yes, Mr. Lessard.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I don't want this to become a formality. The meeting needs to be successful. I would agree to hear from the Minister of Labour before the House adjourns for the summer, unless the committee would agree, as a compromise, to meet with Ms. Finley as soon as we come back.

Of course, I would have liked to have heard from Ms. Finley now, but I agree with my colleague, that the most pressing matter is to understand a little better the direction that the Minister of Labour is giving this file, because I didn't understand it either.

We could take a two-step approach and spend more time, say two hours, meeting with the Minister of Labour.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

This is all the more pressing, Mr. Chairman, since the Minister of Labour said yesterday that children between 12 and 14 years of age were working in McDonald's restaurants. My daughter is 13 years old, and she eats McNuggets, but she does not work there. I want to know exactly what is happening.

I think it would be important for us to be able to ask this kind of question. I would like to propose an amendment.

I move that we remove the reference to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and that we mention only our desire to meet with the Minister of Labour again, unless we add something to specify that we will meet with the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in the fall. I personally am quite eager to see the Minister of Labour again.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

I want to simplify things, Mr. Chair. I disagree somewhat with my colleague. We must not forget about the minister. I would like them both to be invited, while giving priority, however, to our meeting with the Minister of Labour, with the understanding that we shall meet with the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development as soon as possible.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Ms. Yelich.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

I do know that Minister Finley will be quite busy. She has a couple of big conferences: the OECD conference and another one in Vancouver, I believe.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Fair enough. There's rescheduling.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

It's not common that you have them that close together. She was just here. I'm sure you guys drilled her enough.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Coderre, was that an amendment there, to strike “the Minister of Human Resources and Social development” and leave everything else as is, and that “the Minister of Labour”...?

That's not an amendment, so what do I...?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I am going to restate my amendment. I would ask that the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and the Minister of Labour testify before the committee again, with the clarification that we want to see the Minister of Labour before we adjourn for the summer. Is this acceptable?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

In terms of the consensus, we want the motion left the way it is, with the Minister of Labour to appear before the summer adjournment, if possible.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

Don't you have to have a good reason to bring a minister in? You just don't bring him in on a whim. He was just here.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You're so protective.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

Because I'm going to be busy in Parliament next week.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

But I want to know why the hell people of 12 and 14 are working at McDonald's, and secondly—

[A voice]

Well, ask him.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I have other things I have to talk about.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Once again, we have to look at the availability of the minister's schedule. I realize that we have two meetings left. They're already booked.

Let's go to the amendment. The vote is on the amendment to request that the Minister of Labour be able to appear before the summer adjournment, if possible.

(Amendment agreed to)

Now we're going to vote on that whole motion, as it was amended.

(Motion as amended agreed to)

In terms of my original question about sitting next Thursday, we're all in favour of a meeting whether the Minister of Labour can make it or not.