Human Resources Committee on Oct. 16th, 2012

[Jean-François LaRue]

I am not familiar with the specifics of the program you referred to. I could find out and possibly contact the clerk of the committee in that regard.

Of course, we think that this is one of the areas where there are some real challenges to be dealt with. You referred to schedules. However, sometimes the challenges simply boil down to having a good resume and knowing how to use certain tools well. For young people to be able to obtain and keep a job, and perform well in a trade, this is fundamental, especially since a large number of tools are now digital.

We have a lot of projects. Also, various tools were developed in the context of the Red Seal program. I will not list them all, but I can tell you that 34 tools and resources were created to deal with literacy and numeracy issues.

I will conclude by saying that we agree entirely—even if this does not concern that specific project—that that is one of the very important challenges. We deal with this every day.

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

How can these groups convince you that they are necessary? They deal precisely with what you have just talked about and consider important.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

Please complete that answer.

Your time will be up, then. Go ahead, Mr. LaRue.

[Jean-François LaRue]

As I said earlier concerning the other project, we have various programs, in particular the Literacy and Essential Skills Program. Funds are available. There are conditions. Every year, we deal with all sorts of groups who send in applications. I am responsible among other things for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, which recognizes foreign degrees.

We take conditions into account, and accompany people who submit applications. When we think a project is worthwhile, we can fund it within the envelopes we have at our disposal. Naturally, this is a competitive process, as many projects are sent in for consideration. We have to make choices and determine where it is preferable to invest. I am not in charge of the Literacy and Essential Skills Program, but I could certainly put the clerk of the committee in touch with the person who is responsible for it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

Thank you, Monsieur LaRue and all of you, for your presentation and for answering the questions that were posed to you. We really appreciate it. It does give us a good grounding for our study.

I'm going to suspend for a moment while you leave. We have some committee business to look after.

I'll ask the clerk to distribute Mr. Cleary's motion, then we'll address that after we recommence.

With that, I'll suspend for a few moments.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

I call the meeting back to order.

I'll make a couple of comments before we deal with Mr. Cleary's motion. The motion, of course, is before everyone.

If you have motions coming before the committee and you want them to be on the next agenda, you don't need to do this but it would be helpful if you mentioned it to the clerk. Otherwise we will set time for the motion. If we don't deal with it in that meeting, we could use the time for something else.

That's a general comment. Of course, they're all exceptions, but having said that, we've allotted some time for this motion so we will move to the notice of motion by Mr. Cleary.

Mr. Butt.

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to move that the committee go in camera to deal with committee business, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

Yes, Mr. Lapointe.

[François Lapointe, NDP, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Chair, why do we have to go in camera every time we talk about very important topics like this? To be honest, I think we should put that on the schedule of the meeting. It should be written on the schedule, “in camera”, and then we talk about the major topics for Canadians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

Okay.

I've just been advised by the clerk that it's not a debatable motion, so I'll call the question on the motion and have a vote.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

A recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Komarnicki]

Okay, we'll do that.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

That was a close call.

We'll now go in camera and we'll debate it.

[Proceedings continue in camera]