Evidence of meeting #137 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 point.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Brigitte Sansoucy NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I would like to give the minister time to frame his comments.
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Thank you very much, Ms. Sansoucy. You know how much I like working and conversing with you. I find it very unfair that I only have 48 seconds. Fortunately, I may have the chance later today, or this week, to congratulate you once again for your work, but also for the kind of person you are. A little space separates us in the House, but we are very close in our hearts and our minds. I'm very pleased that we're discussing motion M-201 in the House. There may be many more MPs interested in this motion than the number of MPs who have a chance to sit on this committee.
This motion is part of a much broader context of improving the employment insurance program, which we implemented from the beginning. You were right to say that the employment insurance scheme must reflect the circumstances of families and workers in 2019.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Chair.
It's disappointing that the Conservative opposition and NDP would filibuster rather than deal with questions.
One of the first motions this committee dealt with was an NDP motion to study EI reform. They could have put whatever scope they wanted in that motion. It wasn't dealt with. It was done by, I believe, MP Ashton.
I prefer to ask questions, specifically on young people—the youth of this country—who are the future of the country. You referenced $163 million for Canada student loans to be written off. I believe you said the write-off was less than 1%.
Could you tell the committee, briefly, what you're doing to ensure that young people do not have to revert to defaulting on student loans?
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Thank you very much, MP Morrissey.
Mr. Chair, I want to pick up on a point made by MP Barlow. I'm happy to come back to HUMA at any point, so I'll leave that in your capable hands. I certainly wouldn't want to leave the impression that any of us don't want to answer questions on the really important files that we manage every single day on behalf of Canadians all across this country.
In response to your question, the first thing is the increase of grants. You don't have to repay what you don't borrow. We know that, for vulnerable students.... I can actually speak from experience, as the first in my family to graduate with a post-secondary education. That was made possible by Canada student grants. For vulnerable students, it alleviates a lot of fear for families living in poverty because, obviously, they don't necessarily have money to pay for the tuition or whatever is left that's not funded. Also, the fear that paying back a loan down the line can prevent someone from attending school.
When we took office, we knew that one way to get more kids to go to school—more people to attend studies—was to increase non-repayable Canada student grants. We did that, by 50%. That's making post-secondary education more affordable for 43,000 more Canadians.
Also, we changed the repayment assistance program, so that no graduate who applies for loans has to repay their student loan until they're earning at least $25,000 per year. That's another 54,000 students who are taking advantage of that repayment assistance program. That allows people to get their feet on the ground and get a little bit more stable in the workforce before they have to manage their Canada student loans.
As you point out, the write-off amount is less than 1%. That's because of these important changes we've made. In July 2011, the net default rate was 11.8%. In July 2017, after we took office, it dropped to 9%, an all-time low. That's really important, because it's beginning the evidence that actually supporting students, who are at the lower levels of earnings, to access education in a way that increases their confidence and allows them that breathing space actually results in less default.
This is not just fiscally smart; this is smart for employers, too.
This is my final statement, Mr. Chair. Thanks for giving me a few minutes. As I travel across the country, what employers are saying to me most is that they need more talent; they need more bodies. Those of you who come from Quebec will recognize that appeal, but certainly it's happening across the country. Obviously, some areas are experiencing it in deeper ways than others. This lack of labour means that we need to double down on our efforts to get more young people the skills training they need, in affordable ways.
We can't afford to leave anybody behind. When we make sure that everyone has an opportunity to succeed and to develop their skills, it's good for them, their families and communities, and it's also good for the economy.
Thank you.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Thank you, Minister.
I have two more questions. In your supplementary estimates (B), you're asking for an increase of $409 million for the Canada student grants. Could you elaborate on where you're going to target that? Please answer briefly, as I have one more question as well.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Yes, absolutely. As I mentioned in my first remarks, the grant piece is incredibly important. It's important for a few reasons. For low-income students, it helps really transcend that barrier that often is all about money. We see that conversation in the Conservatives run by Doug Ford in Ontario, who have dramatically reduced access to grants. There's an outcry from students, an outcry from employers, as a matter of fact, for this approach being wrong-headed—
Foothills, CPC
We're talking about the federal government.
I have a point of order.
Liberal
Liberal
Foothills, CPC
It's on relevancy.
We're supposed to be talking about federal government issues here. We're not talking about provincial government issues. I'm not really worried about what the Province of Ontario is doing. I'm concerned about what the Government of Canada is doing.
Could the minister bring her comments back to the issues, which are the supplementary estimates?
Foothills, CPC
That's what we're talking about here. I'd appreciate it if she brought her—
Foothills, CPC
I have the floor, Mr. Chair.
She should bring her issues back to what we're talking about.
Liberal
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Thanks, MP and Mr. Chair.
I think I was really using that example as a contrast piece to our government. We're investing in increased grants, in making sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, because we know that it's not just the right thing for that student and their family—this is, by the way, generational changing—it's also the right thing for our economy. If we don't have skilled, talented people in our communities, in our regions, in our provinces, in fact what we're going to see is economic decline. Employers will not be able to find the talent they need.
The changes that we've made to student financial assistance eligibility have made 46,000 more Canadians able to afford post-secondary education. The short-sighted politics of cutting education supports is just that: very short-sighted. One could argue that it's very unequal, but also, it's really bad economic policy.
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon to my colleagues.
Good afternoon to the ministers here. We are very thankful you are here. We appreciate your presentations to us.
First and foremost, I just want to say to all the ministers here what a profound impact you're having on all Canadians, but in particular on my riding of Saint John—Rothesay.
There's Minister Hajdu with the skills link program, Canada summer jobs, youth training.
There's Minister Duclos, with the national housing strategy and the Canada child benefit. I want to congratulate you on meeting the government's poverty reduction target three years ahead of schedule. Congratulations.
And there's Minister Qualtrough, with the landmark accessibility legislation.
Last, but certainly not least, there's my friend Minister Tassi, with the increase to the GIS and the new horizons for seniors program.
My question is for Minister Tassi.
Minister Tassi, I know you've been travelling all over the country talking to Canadians. I was lucky enough to have you in my riding of Saint John-Rothesay. If you remember, we went to the town of Rothesay. We had a wonderful meeting with Mayor Nancy Grant. We talked about how Rothesay was designated an age-friendly community by the Government of New Brunswick, which our federal government helped make happen by providing funding for the Rothesay seniors' resource centre through the new horizons for seniors program.
We also had a great meeting with the Rothesay Age-Friendly Committee. They were instrumental in establishing the centre to discuss this and other seniors initiatives in Saint John—Rothesay. We had great discussions with the seniors. I remember in particular two seniors who are in a low-income situation, single seniors. They talked to us about just how profound the 10% increase in the GIS was to them, and what a game-changer and life-changer it was to them.
Minister Tassi, I just want you to express and talk about the impact of our government's investments in bolstering the GIS for low-income seniors and expanding the new horizons for seniors program. Could you just share with us how instrumental that is to changing lives for Canadians?
Minister of Seniors
Thanks, MP Long, for that question.
I have very fond memories of visiting your riding. I really appreciate the leadership that was shown there. I am very optimistic. It's reflected in a number of parts of the country as I travel and see groups coming together and taking proactive action in order to better serve the needs of seniors in their communities. In your particular case, you had the firefighters going in and checking the houses to ensure that the fire alarms were working—that opportunity to engage with seniors. That's happening across the country. It's fantastic, as the Minister of Seniors, to witness that first-hand.
With the two items you raised, the GIS is extremely important. What our government has done is focus on assisting those who are most vulnerable, most in need. The GIS increase was targeted at the most vulnerable single seniors. That increase was up to $947 per year. That has had a positive impact on 900,000 seniors across the country and has lifted 57,000 seniors out of poverty.
As I travelled and engaged not only with seniors, but also with organizations that work with seniors and family members, income security was something that came up, so I think that initiative was a tremendous step for our government.
I could take the rest of the meeting's time to talk about the new horizons for seniors program. This program is second to none. It's absolutely fantastic. I think all members around this table have probably experienced first-hand the benefits of these investment dollars.
I see the chair has given you two minutes.
Let me be brief. To see these investment dollars in action, the difference that it's making in the lives of seniors, is absolutely tremendous. There are things like intergenerational connections being established and seeing the magic that happens when seniors and youth come together. There are gardens being created, maybe for immigrants who are living in apartments and don't have the ability to have their own garden, and then that food is distributed within the community.
Additionally, we have the pan-Canadian...but I would mention specifically the community-based projects. The difference they are making is so important, as is the supplemental help that comes as a result of that. It's not only those investment dollars. It's seeing volunteers and others come around and help enhance those programs. It's absolutely fantastic.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Minister.
If you remember, we also left Rothesay and went into Saint John and toured Loch Lomond Villa, a wonderful organization and complex led by Cindy Donovan in Saint John. Part of their mission is providing affordable housing for seniors in their riding. We had great conversations with her and with many seniors there about the need for more affordable housing units in Saint John—Rothesay.
Minister Duclos, could you touch on how the increased spending to implement the national housing strategy, which is outlined in the estimates, will help address the need for more affordable housing for seniors?
Liberal
Liberal
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
I'll cheat. I'll spread the breaking news that you mentioned, Wayne.
This morning, Statistics Canada released the results of the Canadian income survey. We have now reduced poverty between 2015 and 2017 by more than 20%. In two years, 825,000 Canadians have been lifted out of poverty, and that's only until 2017.
