Evidence of meeting #18 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cost.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:40 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
The major attachment and minor attachment provisions are left at 360 hours.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Do you need any further clarifications, Mike? Okay, thanks.
Mr. Savage.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I just want to be clear about the Liberal amendment. First, what costs $150 million? Is that the regional rates and the 70 hours?
9:40 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
It's to reduce the variable entrance requirement across the program, on a national basis, by 70 hours.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
So that's the $150 million. And the $160 million is to reduce the new entrance requirement?
9:40 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
Yes, from 910 hours to 840 hours.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
9:40 a.m.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could we possibly see in writing how all of these figures compare? I'm a little confused and I'm a visual person. Could Mr. James draw up a chart for us, so that we can get a clear picture of the situation?
9:40 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
I certainly could do that.
9:40 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chairman, if that's the case, then I suggest we suspend the meeting until we have the information we need. A bill is too important. Perhaps someone will say that we should have done this earlier, but we are here to work for the welfare of Canadians and it would be a shame not to have the right information. Moreover, Mr. James has information about both scenarios that he can convey to us, about the amendments that have been drafted and about the first bill. It would be important to have copies of this material in order to review it properly. Perhaps we should postpone the meeting until the House returns from its break. As soon as Mr. James has the information, he can forward it to our clerk, who can then pass it along to us. I suggest we adjourn this meeting on Bill C-265.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I can put that to the committee.
My suggestion is that we have him go over the costs for the second amendment and maybe look at the first two, which don't have any amendments to or any costs associated.
Is that something we want to entertain at this point in time? Would that be reasonable?
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
Yes, I think so, given that I think he's going to have to draw us a map with—
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay.
So here's what I'm going to suggest, Mr. James.
Why don't we continue on with the costing, as has been suggested, just so people can start to get their heads around it, and then we can possibly go to some of the less contentious clauses, maybe look at trying to knock a few of those off right now. If that's okay with the committee, let's proceed in that fashion.
Why don't we just start one thing at a time. Why don't you finish off what you're doing, and then we'll just see how we proceed here.
9:45 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
Thank you.
I believe the final amendment to speak to would be Monsieur Lessard's amendment, which proposes to increase the benefit rate to 60% from 55%. Our estimate of the cost of that is $1.2 billion per year. That's for all benefits, nationwide.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
I would suggest we colour-code this map so that we can see it with or without this--
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
What I would suggest is that we look at the costing as originally described by the bill, and then the additional costing based on the amendments. Would that be what the committee is looking for?
Mr. Godin.
9:45 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, and at the same time, I think I would like to see the cost of the pilot projects on each of the others--the best 12 weeks, and the one about the.... There are two pilot projects. What is the other one?
9:45 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
There's the “best 14” pilot project.
9:45 a.m.
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Social Development
And there's a NERE pilot project--new entrant, re-entrant--which reduces entrance requirements.