Evidence of meeting #74 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 chairman.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
All the information is available on the website, Mr. Lessard.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
No, the decisions are not made on a riding-by-riding basis. Essentially they're made on three big criteria. One is to create jobs that otherwise would not be created. Secondly--
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
We are aware of the criteria, Mr. Minister. I simply want to know how this is being done. You said that it would not be done for each riding, but rather for all ridings in general. The 2007-2008 budget proposes $55 million in cuts from a $97.5-million budget. Ten million dollars were cut this year.
Are you still intending to cut a further $45 million next year?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Do you want to answer that question? Mr. Lessard is out of time.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Sure.
The answer is no. The program is funded this year at $87 million. The program will be funded at a comparable level.
But I want to say this program is designed to benefit students. I think what's happened, Mr. Chairman, is that a number of members of Parliament are looking at this the wrong way. I think they're looking it as a way for them to exercise influence in their ridings and in some cases help out very worthy groups. But my job is to make sure we have a labour force--
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
--ready to go forward and be successful in the world, when we have a very difficult challenge facing us because of global competition for talent.
That's why we're designing this program the way we are. We want to make sure we don't revert to--
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Chairman, I do not want to hear propaganda, I want to hear facts.
Conservative
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Chairman, I want to hear the facts. Will the cuts be made next year according to plan? Mr. Chairman, I am not getting an answer.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you very much. That's all the time we have.
We're going to move on to Mr. Martin. Five minutes, sir.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I have about three questions for Minister Solberg.
I do want to say, right off the top, that I'm somewhat offended by your response to this question about the summer grants. I don't think you can paint all politicians in the same way on this one. I think it's unfair that you characterize it as you do.
Since I've come here, I've met many politicians of different stripes. We're all here trying to do the right thing for our constituents, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's the reason we're elected.
For us to want to make sure we get our fair share of the money that's coming for career student placement--
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
It's not your money. It's not your fair share. It's for the students.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
But it's also to be spread across the country. And if we find out that most of this money is going to particular ridings or particular areas....
We had a discussion at this table in the last Parliament. We brought forward a report to the government to say that we wanted to look at other criteria. Everybody around the table, all of us, Liberal, Conservative, New Democrat, and the Bloc, agreed that there needed to be clear criteria, nationally recognized and respected.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Oh, yes. I can provide it right now. It's right here in front of me.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
My first request of you this afternoon is to table with this committee the.... We've read there are 12 criteria and a point system, and that there's a grid and point system. We'd like you to table with the committee that grid and point system so we can all see it for ourselves and understand why it is that some of us got more and some of us got less and why some very well-meaning, hard-working organizations got money and others didn't.
That's always the challenge for us. Whether you like it or not, we're going to get the questions. We're going to take the heat. They'll be asking us why they didn't get funded this year and why they got funded last year. And we have to answer those questions, not you.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Well, I can assure you I'm answering questions right now, I think.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
You are, and we appreciate that.
My second thing is that I notice there are reductions of $20 million and $35 million respectively for the Canada learning bond and the Canada education savings grant. In the case of the Canada learning bond, which is for low-income families, that's a 44% cut. I have three questions.
Previously these programs were projected to increase every year as we had more uptake by parents making use of these programs. Do you have any explanation for the reductions? Has the decline in uptake been so remarkable that these programs, specifically the one for low-income families, are on the decrease instead of the increase?
My second question on this front is that we know that the Canada education savings grant goes disproportionately to wealthier families. I'm sure you have some statistics as a way of keeping track of this, to be sure that these programs are efficiently going to those who need it most. Can you provide the committee with any research you have on this?
And third, and more of a rationale question, the summer career placement program was cut because some people were receiving money who would have otherwise found a job, while the CESG is designed specifically to give money to well-off families who are otherwise able to save for their kids.
Those are my questions for the moment.
Conservative
Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Thank you.
There are a number of issues in there. I'll just try to address specifically the Canada learning bond.