Human Resources Committee on May 15th, 2007

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I just wanted to add, I think you had mentioned that the minister had said that he would forward that information. From my understanding of listening to the minister, I think he had said that he would be forwarding the criteria and information in regard to how the program was administered.

I think Mr. Lessard's motion is extremely important. There have been a number of students who have been impacted. The program has been substantially cut, and I think it is important that we do receive information about which non-profit organizations have received funding and where they are located in the country, because I, like many of the other MPs around this table, have received numerous phone calls from not only students, but also many organizations that greatly benefited from employing students and providing them with employment over the summer months. So this is a motion that would definitely have the support, I'm sure, of many members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

I have Ms. Yelich, Mr. Lake, and Mr. Savage.

Ms. Yelich.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

I have no argument, but what I do want to say is that on May 17, on that whole day, I would like us to do the meetings here in the Centre Block, if you would do it, because if we're going to be stuck in the House of Commons—we have too many duties—we can't be running across the street.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We will certainly make a request. That's a separate issue we'll deal with afterwards.

Mr. Lake, Mr. Savage, then Mr. Martin.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I just want to clarify, actually. As I'm reading the two motions, I think you said they're complementary motions, they're meant to go together. I'm curious, maybe it's just a misprint or something, but I'm wondering why they're different. Why in one case are you asking for information that's different from the other year?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

There are no private programs in 2007. He just wanted clarification.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

That's the exact point I'm trying to make. He's asking for the non-profits and privates for 2007, and he's just asking for private companies in 2006. Is there a reason?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

He wants to substantiate what claims were made. This is money that went to businesses is what I'm assuming. I don't want to speak for—

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

No. I would like it actually if he could maybe clarify. That would be good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Go ahead.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Our colleague has put a very timely question. On the one hand, we all have the information about the non-profit organizations for 2006, because the work was done in the ridings, in collaboration with the MPs. I think that we need more specific details about the private sector in 2006. We do not have all the information, and you will not object to our finding out exactly where the organizations are located.

Mr. Chairman, he just asked me a question and then changed the subject.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I hope he listened.

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

In two minutes, he will put the same question again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

No, I won't let him.

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

Mr. Lake, Mr. Brown, Mr. Chong and the minister each gave us examples to justify changing the Summer Career Placement Program. Mr. Lake spoke about Wal-Mart, Mr. Brown spoke about Rogers, Mr. Chong spoke about Wal-Mart, Rogers and Subway and the minister spoke about the big restaurant chains.

It looks like they only want to inform a few select members of the committee about these things to enable them to oppose the remaining members. I think that all the members of the committee, given their mandate, must receive the same information, and not only allegations, but also information supported by concrete documents showing where things were done and how. Regarding Wal-Mart, we heard of the enormous figure of $265,000. For these reasons, and to respond to Mr. Lake, I think that both my motions should be adopted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

We have Mr. Savage, Mr. Martin, then Mr. Lake again.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I would support this motion, but I want to know not just who received grants this year, but also who applied and didn't get them. To me that's very important as well. If Mr. Lessard would accept a friendly amendment, I would put that in here; if not, I'll propose my own separate amendment. I will support this as it is, but I want to find out as soon as possible who applied and did not get them. That's a big part of the story.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Are you proposing an amendment, then, Mr. Savage?

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I would like to propose an amendment to number 20: “the list of non-profit organizations and private companies that received grants, and those who applied and were not successful, under”... blah, blah, blah.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

There's no unanimous consent in this committee for that change.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

If the proposer accepts it, it can be accepted.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

That's not unanimous consent. You require unanimous consent to table. There's not unanimous consent here to do that.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

You don't need unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

No, it's just an amendment.

Now the discussion will go to his amendment. We can vote on that amendment and go back to the original motion.

We'll start a new list discussing the amendment Mr. Savage has proposed.

Mr. Lake.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

The first question I would have is maybe we should include the wording “subject to the Privacy Act”, if we're going to do that. There may be some concerns there.