Human Resources Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2018

Evidence of meeting #126 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 information.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Supporting Families After the Loss of a Child

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Rutha Astravas Director, Special Benefits, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment, Department of Employment and Social Development

Ron Gravel Acting Director, Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada

Valérie Gaston Chief Vital Statistics, Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada

John Barlow Foothills, CPC

Michael MacPhee Director General, Employment Insurance Program and Services Oversight, Transformation and Integrated Service Management Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Blake Richards Banff—Airdrie, CPC

9:55 a.m.

Banff—Airdrie, CPC

Blake Richards

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, for the motion that I brought forward in Tuesday's meeting, my understanding of the response that we got.... I mean, I certainly welcome the opportunity to go to drafting instructions, because I do believe it should allow this committee the time to complete its report and table it before Christmas, but my understanding of the explanation we received at that time was that it was just not possible to go to drafting instructions within two days from the time, and so.... Now we're being told, well, gee, it is possible.

What actually is the problem here such that we can't have this report done when it was directed to be done by the motion that was passed unanimously by the House of Commons and within the time frame in which we've seen other committees and this committee complete reports of the same nature? I'm really struggling to understand exactly what the problem is here in order to get this report done.

This seems to be one of the things that we were told was not possible, and it is. We're going to do it. Please explain to me, other than a desire not to do it, what the problem is here.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

As I mentioned at the last meeting, it's not an issue of desire, and I apologize if that was the impression.

9:55 a.m.

Banff—Airdrie, CPC

Blake Richards

Well, it sure seems to be, Mr. Chair.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

The drafting instruction piece, which was scheduled for next Tuesday, was not necessarily the sticking point. There were a number of logistics, including translation, the size of the study and the fact that we had yet to actually finish meeting with all witnesses. We do have an opportunity right now to move to drafting instructions, and I would like to suspend so that we can do that right now.

9:55 a.m.

Banff—Airdrie, CPC

Blake Richards

Mr. Chair, I appreciate that, and we more than welcome doing that, but I want to make it clear to everyone who is listening that those statements that have just been made are simply just not accurate. The facts do not bear them out, but we will certainly take that as a sign that there is not a will to do this, Mr. Chair. You can make all the excuses you want, but that is the fact.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

That is your opinion, sir.

9:55 a.m.

Banff—Airdrie, CPC

Blake Richards

That is the fact.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Thank you. We'll suspend.

9:55 a.m.

Banff—Airdrie, CPC

Blake Richards

[Proceedings continue in camera]