Evidence of meeting #15 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:30 p.m.
Director, District 5 - Québec, United Steelworkers
I'll try another headset.
Can you hear me better now?
June 1st, 2020 / 3:30 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes, we hear you much better.
3:30 p.m.
Director, District 5 - Québec, United Steelworkers
Recently, on Quebec's North Shore, there was the situation of Cliffs Resources, a company that went bankrupt and left many of our retirees without drug coverage, but more importantly, with a truncated pension. I can tell you that when a retiree has their pension cut by more than 20%, their life changes a lot.
In the 2018 federal budget, the government said, “All Canadians deserve more peace of mind when it comes to their retirement and companies must act in good faith towards their employees”. I believe that good faith on the part of corporations alone is not enough. I think the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act should be changed. I'll explain.
It's true now more than ever—we know that there are companies that are at financial risk because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are going to be bankruptcies. Because of the financial shock and the underfunding of some pension plans, we are concerned about the pensions negotiated over time for Canadian workers, but especially for retirees. More than ever, this highlights the need for reform of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to protect the pensions and benefits of Canadian workers.
Very often, the interests of workers and retirees come last, after those of banks, insurance companies, municipalities, and even school boards. We are not asking to be the first on the list of creditors in the event of bankruptcy, we certainly do not want to hinder the possible recovery of a business that would come under the protection of the law, but we still want the opportunity to be considered before the banks, before the insurance companies, before the municipalities and before the school boards.
Real people, who have to feed themselves, pay their rent and take care of themselves, have to come before the banks. When an 85-year-old pensioner, for example, learns that his pension is going to be cut by 20% or 21%, it's very difficult to adjust. It would be much easier for Canada's major banks, insurance companies, municipalities, and even school boards to get through the situation with a loss rather than penalizing retirees.
In the last session of Parliament, the United Steelworkers supported two private members' bills and one Senate bill that would do just that. As a result, the House has already had a chance to debate but not vote on these bills. We hope that you will finally move forward, given the need to reform this legislation to protect Canadian pensioners.
The second point I would like to discuss with you more specifically concerns tourism, hotels and restaurants. I would like to draw your attention to the plight of workers in this industry.
In Quebec, the United Steelworkers represent nearly 4,000 workers in the hotel and restaurant sector, 90% of whom have lost their jobs. For the moment, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit has helped workers in emergency situations, but you know that experts predict that it will take between 18 and 24 months before this sector recovers. This is an industry that was already experiencing severe labour shortages. We must support workers in this industry so that it can rely on a skilled workforce during the restart, and workers must be there in sufficient numbers when the industry recovers.
It is often during the summer that people accumulate hours to qualify for employment insurance benefits and receive these benefits in the off-peak periods. This summer, there will be no international tourism in Canada. There will be no cruise ships. There will be no weddings. In many cases, workers will not be able to work enough hours to be able to reapply for employment insurance. This year, it will be an off-season for a large majority of hotel and restaurant workers.
What happens at the end of the CERB? We need to think now about what will happen when the CERB is over. I think there are two options: extending CERB or changing the qualifying period for employment insurance benefits.
I know you're currently considering the situation of those who work in fisheries. We think the same protections should be extended to those in the hotel and restaurant sector. This is important to think about. What will happen to the tourism and restaurant industry without those workers?
I'm sure you'll have the best interests of workers at heart as you look for ways to emerge from the crisis.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you.
Now we will proceed with questions, beginning with Mr. Waugh for six minutes.
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Pardon me, Mr. Chair. I just want to check whether the remaining time will be divided equally among the parties.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I'm not sure that's what you'd call it, but let's say I do.
I just want to make sure, Mr. Chair, that the time we have left for questions will be divided equally among the four of us.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to share my time with Regina—Lewvan MP, Mr. Steinley.
I don't have any questions for Mr. Neumann or Mr. Lemieux. I'll start with Mr. Dias.
Mr. Dias, I was part of your union for some 40 years. I'm a broadcaster, and then in 2015 I was elected as a member of Parliament. The committee that was created about a year and a half ago by the government to dole out $595 million as a media bailout is just starting to get formed. They named a committee chair about a month ago. Is Unifor on this five-person committee?
3:40 p.m.
President, Unifor
We were a part of the original committee that determined the criteria. We had a journalist who had spent most of his time with the Toronto Sun as our representative on the committee. As you are well aware, the committee that put together the rules had Unifor, as well as representatives from all segments of the industry.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Yes, I'm aware of that.
Was there a conflict of interest that Unifor, representing so many media outlets in this country, would have a big say where the $595 million is to go? To me, that's a conflict.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Kate Young Liberal London West, ON
Mr. Chair, I am questioning the relevance of this line of questioning. What does it have to do with what we're discussing today and—
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you for that point of order, Ms. Young.
Without hearing from the other side on this, I'm inclined to agree with them. The composition of a committee that determines where funds go is highly relevant to what we're studying.
Go ahead, Mr. Dias.
3:40 p.m.
President, Unifor
I welcome the question. I'm used to answering the questions of people who know very little of what they're talking about, and obviously, that's where that question came from.
3:40 p.m.
President, Unifor
Excuse me, I'm speaking. I listened to you.
The bottom line is that you know that the work of the original committee was to put a structure in place. The role of that committee was not to determine who got what, and I think you know that. The bottom line is this: Did Unifor have a role in determining who gets any of the money? The answer is no.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
That's all I wanted to know from you.
When I get phone calls from every newspaper in the country that still say they are waiting for some of their money a year and a half later, and who continue to lay off employees and continue to ask their Unifor members to take 5%, 10% or 15% off their wages, that is an issue for me. That should be an issue for you. This committee hasn't even got started yet.