Evidence of meeting #101 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was essential.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Karine Trudel NDP Jonquière, QC
I was telling myself that, since 23 collective agreements have been concluded and instructions given, the tables were established in preparation for Bill C-62.
4:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
During bargaining, separate agreements are included in the collective agreements to discuss that very issue. It is therefore part of the collective bargaining process. Based on what the bargaining agents have understood, the current legislation would be repealed.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
Mr. Chair, there was a request for information, a simple statistic of what percentage of people actually use the unused sick leave. Is it being used at the end of a person's career, so that six months ahead of time, before individuals actually retire, they start a process of possibly being sick? We were not told that number. I think it's reasonable that we have that number.
If we can't get that number from people who are actually the heads of the departments, the assistant deputy minister, if we can't get it from these people who are here to advise us on Bill C-62, then where can we get that number? I think it's a fair question, and I seek your guidance.
Where would we get that number?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Thank you, Mr. Warawa.
That was actually a point of order that ended up being a question, not a point of order. The question was asked, and I believe was answered quite eloquently by Ms. Hassan that it's not as simple as pulling a statistic out of a hat, that each situation could be different, and could lead to a misleading scenario.
Is this something that could be produced?
4:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
We're looking at whether that data exists.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC
Could I then ask, if it exists—and it must with computers—we must be able to know the percentage of people who are using their sick leave at the end of their career. It could be justified, as in, “I'm sick, that's why I'm retiring early” or “that's why I'm retiring when I am.” What is the percentage? I can't imagine that this information is not available.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
If Ms. Hassan said she was going to see if it exists, I'm sure she'll come back to this committee.
4:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
I'm looking to see if the data exists.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
I will remind Mr. Warawa that it's not a justification of whether or not somebody is sick. It's the only way it can be used. Again, as Ms. Hassan pointed out, this would be essentially fraud if used as vacation time.
Thank you very much to the witnesses for being here today.
I want to remind everybody that we're going to be back in this room on Wednesday, May 2, getting finally back to experiential learning. We're going to be focusing specifically on volunteerism and school-to-work transition strategies. We also have a few upcoming reminders. We're going to continue with experiential learning, but we also have confirmation of the main estimates when all three ministers will be appearing on May 23.
Thank you very much, everybody.
We are adjourned.