Human Resources Committee on Feb. 28th, 2019

[Gordie Hogg]

Are we building any longer-term metrics out of the Canada summer jobs program that are going to be able to influence other programs that we look at, other services, other ministries? Are there any experiences or metrics that are helpful to convey the way we approach it more broadly?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Very briefly, please.

[Leslie MacLean]

The Canada summer jobs program does fall under the umbrella of the youth employment strategy, and there are a number of program components in that. Absolutely, as we continue to evaluate the success of our Canada summer jobs program, we'll be cross-pollinating the other elements under the youth employment strategy with our sense of what's working and what's not.

I would note, in response to the member's question, that there are programs, indeed, where many federal departments offer internships and other summer work experience to youth. So we will be making it fit together.

[Gordie Hogg]

Even in British Columbia, I understand.

[Leslie MacLean]

Especially in British Columbia.

[Gordie Hogg]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much.

Next is MP Diotte for five minutes, please.

[Kerry Diotte, Edmonton Griesbach, CPC]

Hi folks.

First, I was looking at the brief where it states, “The Department is requesting $5 million to administer the Accessibility Canada Act to establish...an Accessibility Secretariat and to increase support for the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.” What exactly is being done to remove the physical barriers for those with disabilities?

[Chantal Maheu]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.

Specifically, in the estimates, at this point there's no funding that is targeted to remove barriers to accessibility. However, if I may speak more generally, as you know, this committee has spent a number of weeks studying Bill C-81. The whole purpose of Bill C-81 is to remove barriers to accessibility throughout the federally regulated system, including in the public service.

Bill C-81 will create a system where we will develop, manage and enforce standards of accessibility for Canadians across a number of priorities, including in transportation, communication and employment. It will also create an infrastructure where, for the first time, Canadians won't have to fight for their rights. The obligation will actually be on the organization to be accessible and to meet the standards. I think that legislation, which is now being discussed and reviewed in the Senate, will actually be historic in terms of advancing accessibility for Canadians.

[Kerry Diotte]

We certainly heard around this table from witnesses that the sooner the better.

Turning to affordable housing, we all know there's a housing crisis on many first nations reserves with families living in overcrowded, unsafe, unsuitable conditions. We've seen the headlines very recently. Why were $10.4 million in funds re-profiled when it seems there's such a desperate need? How will those funds be used now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

We were supposed to have someone from CMHC here. I'm just wondering if anybody here is comfortable answering this. If not, maybe we can ask for a written response.

[Benoît Robidoux]

We'd ask for precision. Is it the one we have in our supplementary (B), or are you talking about something else in affordable housing?

[Kerry Diotte]

I'm looking under Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, supplementary (B).

[Benoît Robidoux]

That's not for us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I'm afraid, Mr. Diotte, that CMHC is not present, but maybe we can ask for a written response to that question.

[Kerry Diotte]

Sure. While I'm on it then, also in that written response I'd like to know specifically what the government is doing to address the housing crisis on first nations reserves as part of that and what metrics are in place to ensure that the housing investments on reserve result in improved conditions. Again, we certainly know the headlines about Cat Lake and many other headlines. That's quite an important issue, I believe.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

You have about a minute and a half, sir.

[Kerry Diotte]

Getting back to the Canada student loans program, I know in my riding I make a point to visit every program in the summer, and it's a very well thought out program. It gives youth their first job in a lot of cases. A lot of people were very disappointed with the attestation, which meant that a lot of people could not get the programs and could not hire people, and a lot of people were missing jobs. More to that point, the one thing that I'm hearing now is that it is too short a time, and a lot of university students who want to work three months, and have to because university is expensive, are not getting enough weeks.

This question is for anybody. What's your response to that?

[Leslie MacLean]

I will speak to that, Mr. Chair.

When we look at the program year over year, we've been recommending for MP input about eight to 12 weeks. For example, for last summer and, as noted in my earlier testimony, with the 2018 program, our average number of recommended weeks would have been eight, and after MP input, it came out at 8.1, so slightly higher.

Your point is very important around the length of time of the work experience for the student. Again, that's why we were very heartened with the reply from employers this year that as many as 30% had chosen to extend the student term beyond what we were able to provide.

There is absolutely no question that we receive extraordinary demand in terms of number of requesters and the number of potential jobs and funds. That's been consistently rising, so we appreciate very much the local input to help us try to get as many jobs supported for as many people as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much. I'm afraid that's time.

I would like to thank all of you for being here today and answering our questions on the estimates.

We are going to suspend to go in camera for committee business.

[Proceedings continue in camera]