Evidence of meeting #54 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 discussion.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Philippe Méla  Legislative Clerk

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

I repeat, my suggestion is for three years to give more time to prepare something more complete.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Can I just add that this isn't stalling in terms of the implementation of the program. We're talking about a report of it.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

It's still part of the timeline. It's stalling.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

I totally understand.

What I was going to interject is this. You had asked whether the member who submitted this was in agreement to this. Yes, he is.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Does he know that?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Any further discussion?

Madam Sansoucy.

11:50 a.m.

NDP

Brigitte Sansoucy NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

I would react differently if I didn't know that clauses 6 and 7 of the bill were eventually going to be removed. This deals strictly with the consultations. I don't see the point of putting it off until after the next election, especially since the minister will be asked to submit a report. Theoretically, the minister's mandate comes to an end with the next election.

I'm absolutely fine with a two-year consultation period. I don't see why it's necessary to extend that timeline until after the next election, especially since we know that the main substance of the bill is going to be removed.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Mr. Fonseca.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Fonseca Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON

Thank you, Chair.

I believe with this bill, it would allow for the EI changes to come into effect and then to evaluate those. It would give it that time. That is my understanding. Maybe that is why we're looking to extend that time.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Any further debate?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 4 as amended agreed to)

(On clause 5)

Now we're on to clause 5.

Mr. Long.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB

Mr. Chair, we can just vote on clause 5.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Any discussion?

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I would like an explanation of the language. I just have French in front of me. I don't have the translation.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

We'll get the translation for you.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

It's the French version, but it doesn't talk about the English version. We just have two French lines side by side here.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

I'm going to ask the clerk to explain where we're at. There is a bit of an order issue with this.

11:50 a.m.

Philippe Méla Legislative Clerk

Do you have a copy of the bill by any chance?

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

I do.

11:50 a.m.

The Clerk

The first line of clause 5 of the bill, 5.1, says, “Within three years”. In French, it says, “Dans les cinq ans”.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

It's a clerical error.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Fair enough.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

You need to actually move the amendment, sir.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB

We don't support the amendment.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Okay.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB

We want to strike clause—