Human Resources Committee on May 6th, 2008

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

I'm agreeing with what you just said, that we would give these groups 10 minutes. They can choose for themselves who's going to speak, but that's the time limit. Then when we ask questions after, we can ask whoever we choose. So that would be great.

I also agree that at some point we should find some time for the two groups that Mr. Lake is speaking about, and tacking it on is a good idea as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay. I think that's a decent compromise. The challenge would be that we don't want this to go on too long, because we're going to issue a report or whatever we're going to do. My suggestion would be that we ask them maybe next week and add them on to what we're going to be doing with Bill C-362. So maybe that would be a possibility.

Thank you, Mr. Martin.

I have Ms. Yelich, Mr. Savage, and then Mr. Lessard.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

It's not a very broad scope. If it's going down to just 10 minutes, they're not going to spend an hour and a half, so do we need the full two hours, given that you've cut witnesses? Originally this is why it was extended, because we had a broad scope of witnesses. Now we're down to a smaller number of witnesses. Maybe we should tack that on to the next meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I think we'll need the time, because even today, just to get in a couple of extra rounds....

The presentations do tie up the time.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

Then we will agree to that. I would really think we have to have the Council of Chief Executives and the Federation of Independent Business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

If it's all right with the group, I'll suggest that we invite them maybe Tuesday or Thursday next week and add them on after our meeting. Maybe we can work on the schedule so that we can try to get them on the same day.

Mr. Savage, and then Mr. Lessard.

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

I think there has been some sort of misunderstanding. It was my understanding from the subcommittee that these four groups would come and speak in one slot, and that's what is being confirmed here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Yes.

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

That makes entire sense to me, and I think two hours is enough. I don't think we need to extend it to Thursday, especially since we all want to get to the Alliance of Sector Councils reception about the employability report, which I think we should all go to, including the staff who worked so hard on it.

I also think we do need more voice here from employers. If that's the CFIB, which makes sense, the Council of Chief Executives, and maybe somebody else.... Maybe we have time now to look at some other group, but I do think there has to be more of a voice from that point of view.

So Mr. Lessard, if you're okay with what we've talked about, which is 10 minutes split between the four groups, and anybody can answer questions, that's fine with me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

You're next on the list. Go ahead, Mr. Lessard.

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

I have no objection to give the four groups 10 minutes. Now we have to decide how we will deal with the two other groups, CNC and the MASSE. Will each of these groups get five minutes? We also want to hear from the two groups representing the unemployed and the CLC.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Sure. I don't have a problem with that.

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

We could give each of the other groups five minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

The other two organizations will get their regular seven minutes.

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

Each group will have five minutes, and then we will move on to questions.

[The Clerk]

Perfect.

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

I also think that we should hear from business leaders; however, I think it would be best to keep the meeting at two and a half hours. If they get tired, we will stop. The people who appeared earlier told us as they were leaving that they felt they had gained a more in-depth knowledge of things, and they were very happy about that. So I think we should use the same approach for our next meeting on Thursday. These people will have a lot to say.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We'll provide for two and a half hours, but I'll keep in mind the fact that we'd like to get out of here, and maybe we could end at a quarter after the hour, as we did today. There will be no committee business, so that will give us enough time, and it's a decent compromise.

I think that just about covers it. The question is, do we need to accept the report?

[The Clerk]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

The butchered report? What do we do?

[The Clerk]

I think you should adopt the third report as it is, just for the technical aspects of it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Why don't we do that? Why don't we adopt it—

[The Clerk]

As is, or as amended?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

As amended. We can adopt the third report as amended.

I will go over it one more time for the details.

The details are that the witnesses are those we heard today, with the exception of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, who we'll try to get in for an additional hour at one of our meetings next week, either Tuesday or Thursday. We'll let the clerk make calls on that.

The second one is that for Thursday's meeting, coming up in two days, we have the Canadian Labour Congress, which will be presenting for seven minutes, and the FTQ plus the additional three unions from Quebec, who will have a total of 10 minutes and will sit at the table to answer any direct questions. We'll have the two employee groups with five minutes each, and then we'll have the Building and Construction Trades Department with seven minutes.

The meeting will be two and a half hours, mindful of the fact that the sector council meeting is held that day and we're going to have a chance once again. If we run out of things to say, we won't just be here talking for the sake of talking; we'll move forward on that.

I think that's a good compromise all around, given the letter you guys gave me on Friday and the misunderstanding. I appreciate.... I'll slow down and also wait to make sure the translators have a chance to finish.

Are there any additional comments? I think we've resolved the issues for today.

Thank you very much. We're going to let you two guys go.

We're going to adjourn the meeting. Very quickly, we'll have a subcommittee meeting now to deal with a couple of things in camera—most definitely in camera.

The meeting is adjourned.