Human Resources Committee on Oct. 7th, 2010

Evidence of meeting #25 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act
Committee Business

MPs speaking

Candice Bergen
Raymonde Folco
Michael Savage
Ed Komarnicki
Maria Minna
Yves Lessard
Jeff Watson
Maurice Vellacott
Joe Comartin
Alice Wong
Josée Beaudin

Also speaking

Jacques Paquette  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Dominique La Salle  Director General, Seniors and Pensions Policy Secretariat, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development

10:40 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development

Jacques Paquette

The bill deals with incarceration. From the moment that people are no longer in prison per se, and move on to other places, we resume pension payments. As a matter of fact, prisoners in other situations often have costs to meet.

10:40 a.m.

Bloc

Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

Even if they are housed and fed in a halfway house?

10:40 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development

Jacques Paquette

Actually, they have to pay some costs themselves that must be considered.

10:40 a.m.

Bloc

Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

In principle, in halfway houses, they are housed and fed, just as they are in prison.

10:40 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development

Jacques Paquette

Realistically, they have activities outside the halfway house, so their situation becomes different from when they were limited by their incarceration.

10:40 a.m.

Bloc

Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

Just now, one of the things Mr. Savage asked you was how soon after leaving prison would these people get their first benefit payments? You mentioned a delay of several weeks. To give us an idea, are we talking about 2 weeks, or 25? And have you thought about putting mechanisms in place to facilitate the process?

10:40 a.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development

Jacques Paquette

From the moment people contact a Service Canada office, the staff enters their information into their electronic file. Then they have to wait for the next general old age security cheque run. So the time can vary. It can be a lot shorter if the person is released close to the date on which cheques are issued. Service Canada sends out cheques each month.

10:40 a.m.

Bloc

Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC

Thank you very much.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Thank you very much to the department officials for being here. We apologize that you had to wait a little longer. The government would be next, but we don't have time for another round.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON

I want them to come back. I have a ton more questions for them.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen

Okay. I think we spoke about that, and you can go ahead and add that to your witness list.

Again, we apologize for the delay. We thank you for being here.

Our meeting is adjourned.