Human Resources Committee on Nov. 27th, 2014

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Thank you very much.

Another thing I want to go back to, Mr. Minister, is the literacy money that has not been utilized. We all know that literacy levels are very important, and critical especially for people who go into entry-level jobs, if we want them to move up, whether into apprenticeship programs or even for going back to school to finish university or whatever it is. Specifically I'm very concerned about the amount of money that hasn't been allocated.

In my riding specifically, as in many across the country, I know that tackling illiteracy, especially functional illiteracy, becomes very important. I just wanted to get that on the record.

I believe Madame Groguhé has one question.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

I will be quick.

My question is about the new horizons program, more specifically about how the $5 million will be allocated.

How much will go directly to this program, which deals particularly with elder abuse?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

I am not sure whether we can obtain that information, but if we can, we will forward it to you shortly.

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Very well.

Still in reference to the new horizons program, many organizations have told us that the projects under the program last one year only. When they expire, the organizations have to submit a new application for another project.

Are you considering the possibility of providing funding over three years rather than funding per project? Do you think that would be possible?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

I will ask Ms. Wilson to answer.

[Gina Wilson, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development]

We've recently adjusted the program to have in its terms and conditions projects that are more than one year old.

[The Chair, Conservative, Phil McColeman]

That's all the time we have on that round.

We'll move to our last questioner, Mr. Maguire, for five minutes.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Minister and others, for being here today.

I have a couple of questions around the Ready, Willing and Able initiative. My colleagues have asked some questions on this, but in regard to the allocation of the $15 million over three years, of course, it's noted that it's including autism spectrum disorders and others. Can you indicate to me, of the moneys that were allocated, what specific planned activities would be funded with those initiatives from the CommunityWorks program?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

With the additional funding, the Canadian Association for Community Living will expand the existing activities to 20 community based locations across Canada and host 40 employer forums that will support up to 1,200 new jobs for persons with developmental disabilities.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you.

There's been a request here for close to $800,000 in grants and contributions for the Canada job fund. Can you indicate to what purpose those additional funds will be used? I know the Canada job grants are quite successful, and I'll have some questions on that as well, but there is $799,222, I believe it is, in grants and contributions.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Thank you. This will allow for....

Alain.

[Alain P. Séguin, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Employment and Social Development]

This is basically a reversal of the supplementary estimates (A) that was put forward. That was put forward to allow the department to undertake federal delivery of the Canada job grant and fund in anticipation of the provinces signing on. At that point we were not in a situation where the provinces had signed on, so we were getting ourselves ready in case there was a federal delivery. This is reversing that, so it's all back into the program.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

This was plan B money that we were preparing to spend, and thankfully didn't have to.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you.

I know the Canada job grant had a successful announcement at the launch in Manitoba, as you pointed out earlier. Do we have any other agreements signed?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Yes, we have reached final agreements with all 13 provinces and territories. As I mentioned, I believe eight have opened their systems for taking applications. A couple of the provinces report to me that, although these are early days, the employer interest has exceeded their expectations. It's unfortunate that the applications are generally opening up in the third quarter of the calendar year, so it's a bit of a late start. Having said that, employer organizations are expressing very keen interest. This comes back to Mr. Butt's point about awareness. They want to make sure the SMEs in particular know about the availability of the program, and do in fact apply for it.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

It's good to know that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Phil McColeman]

We're at the end of that round.

Would you like to make a closing comment, Minister?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Southeast, AB]

I would like to come back to Mr. Mayes' question about the targeted initiative for older workers.

The implication of his question was correct in that we have expanded eligibility. It used to be for communities with populations of under 250,000. This program was started largely to deal with lumber towns during the downturn in the lumber industry, so it was originally limited to communities of under 250,000 with high unemployment. We've expanded that to include communities with under 250,000 people, with high unemployment or with unmet demand for skills. That is to say, you might have some communities in northern B.C. where they have relatively low unemployment but where there are labour shortages, and some older workers might benefit from this programming.

I want to clarify. I think I said that we opened eight Service Canada offices for veterans services. In fact, what we did was provide Veterans Affairs a platform in eight pre-existing Service Canada offices.

I also note that the closure of those offices is a matter of contention, but it happened because there was very modest use of those offices. I note that as of September, in the eight VAC service centres being operated in Service Canada offices, nine—not 900, only nine—reservations had been scheduled for case manager meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Phil McColeman]

Minister, I can't help but thank you immensely for your generosity of time for this committee. It's not typical to have a minister extend his or her time as you have.

I thank your officials for being here as witnesses today in the estimates process. It went far beyond estimates, as you had predicted at the start.

Minister, thank you so much.

We are going to recess the meeting for a short period of time to let the minister exit, and then we will reconvene the public meeting for two quick votes. Then we will go in camera for committee business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Phil McColeman]

Committee members, we are still in the public session. We're not yet in camera, and we have two small items to deal with, and they are the actual votes, approval of what we've been studying, which, as you know, is the supplementary estimates (B). There were two items seeking approval.

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$6,204,438

Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$43,024,222

(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to on division)

Thank you very much.

Shall the chair report the same to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Phil McColeman]

Thank you so much.

We will break again to allow us to go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]