Evidence of meeting #22 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was apprentices.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Operational Policy and Research–Canada Student Loan Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
For the Canada apprentice loan program, actually, it's a new act, the apprentice loans act that has been introduced as part of the BIA, and it's about 11 pages long.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Great. I just wanted to bring that out because the opposition frequently like to talk about the number of pages, and what I regularly say is important is what the changes are trying to accomplish. Sometimes a simple change takes a lot of pages, and other times a complex change is very short. So I think the comments that we regularly hear from the opposition, the talk about so many pages of the bill, really miss the point in terms of reflecting what we're actually trying to accomplish within that bill.
So thanks for that.
I'll start with Ms. Ryan. Perhaps you could give us some examples on something which I think is really important. I think almost every member of Parliament has cases that come into their offices, cases that are quite honestly heart-wrenching in terms of the difficulties that people find themselves in.
Can you give us some examples of how these changes are going to make people's dark times a little easier to bear?
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
I'm happy to.
These examples are often quite difficult, but to make it concrete, if you were to think of a parent whose child had received a diagnosis of cancer, that would be deemed a life-threatening illness and signed off by a specialist, and it would be an appropriate reason to begin benefits for that parent so that the parent could spend time with the child going through treatments and so on.
If, in those circumstances, the parent were, for example, to be in a car accident and need to take treatment, either hospitalization, recovery and so on, that parent could suspend the benefits for parents of critically ill children, which last up to 35 weeks to care for the child, take up to 15 weeks of sickness benefits, and then return to the benefits for parents of critically ill children, so that in total that parent could receive up to 50 weeks of benefits. If, during that period, the child's care was at a critical stage where the child needed a parent to be with him or her, the parents of critically ill children benefits are also shareable between the parents.
Essentially, I hope that's an example that demonstrates the flexibility we're trying to bring to the program in what are truly difficult circumstances.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Certainly I think many of us in this room will reflect back to even what maternity was many years ago and say that the program has dramatically changed over the years in terms of supporting people through difficult times. I guess it's also one where the employer and the employee contribute to that, so I think it's making sure that we help people and give them that hands up in times of need, but it's also making sure that we make it affordable in terms of both the employer and the employee. So thank you.
Mr. Rahman—I hope I pronounced that right—can you talk about how the apprentice loan program is going to move forward from here? If someone comes into my office and says, “I've heard about that program. I'm here in Clearwater with a family and I want to get that loan and finish my next section”, can you talk about what we have to do as a government? When is that person going to be able to actually get a loan?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
You'll have to be very concise because we only have 10 seconds left.
Director, Operational Policy and Research–Canada Student Loan Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thank you very much.
We intend to roll it out in January 2015. We still have to get approval for the new regulations in order to implement the loan program. Once the legislation has passed and the regulations have been approved, it will be made available in January 2015.
Conservative
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also want to thank our witnesses.
My question is about the Employment Insurance Act—more specifically, about the costs of this measure. You talked about benefit supplements in the amount of $1.2 million and administrative costs of $9 million. Is that right?
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
No, Mrs. Groguhé, that's not right. The administrative costs are estimated at $109,000 a year on an ongoing basis.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
That's really the figure I had. That's why I wanted to make sure....
Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
The amount is $109,000.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Okay. My other question is about the Old Age Security Act.
Do you have an idea of the impact the proposed amendment will have on sponsors' financial responsibilities?
Director, Old Age Security Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
Let's say you bring your mother to Canada under a 20-year sponsorship agreement, and she is considered a low-income individual. She would not be entitled to a guaranteed income supplement until the 20 years are up, or after her sponsorship agreement ends, while she would currently be eligible to that supplement 10 years earlier.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
I see. But couldn't these new provisions result in more people falling below the poverty line?
Director, Old Age Security Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
That is a good question, and I thank you for it. We have come to the conclusion that the impact on low-income seniors would be negligible, since someone has taken on the financial responsibility for individuals who come to Canada under a sponsorship agreement.
Moreover, as a result of a change Citizenship and Immigration Canada made to the sponsorship rules on January 1, 2014, the sponsorship criteria have been tightened. That provides us with assurance that the sponsors do have the financial means to support the individual they want to bring to Canada. That's why we feel that the impact on low-income individuals will be negligible.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
I think you also said that certain changes to the sponsor's situation could be considered, such as a death. Would a long-term illness also be taken into consideration?
Director, Old Age Security Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
A long illness would not be considered. Under a provision of the Old Age Security Regulations, the guaranteed income supplement can be paid to a sponsored individual in the case of a sponsorship agreement breakdown. That breakdown may be the result of the sponsor's death, conviction, bankruptcy, or incarceration for a period exceeding six months. That has not changed.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
If I understand correctly, long-term illness is not at all taken into consideration?
Director, Old Age Security Policy, Department of Employment and Social Development
No, that's not in our regulations.
NDP
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
What would happen if a sponsor could not work owing to a long-term illness? What recourse would be available in such a case?