Evidence of meeting #19 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 women.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Paulette Senior  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Women's Foundation
Angela Bonfanti  Senior Vice-President, Foundation Programs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Marie-France Lafleur
Elizabeth Cahill  Committee Researcher

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

It certainly is.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

It is the appropriate time—

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kate Young Liberal London West, ON

Could I make an a friendly amendment?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

—and your motion is in order. If there are people who wish to speak to the motion, could I ask them to use the “raise hand” function?

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Chair, I would like a clarification, please.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

We have Madame Chabot and Ms. Young.

Go ahead, Ms. Chabot.

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

I want to make sure this is about Canada Summer Jobs, because the interpreter spoke of loans and grants. I am no longer sure I have the right motion.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Was there an interpretation issue during the reading of the motion?

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Are we talking about the motion on Canada Summer Jobs that was just put forward?

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

That is correct.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Mr. Chair, if you want, I can read it in French.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

It might be a good idea.

Yes, please do that, Mr. Albas, in order to be fair. I think something was lost there.

Please, go ahead.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I can't hear you, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure if there's something wrong with mine here.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Okay, can you hear me now?

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Yes.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Your suggestion that it be read in French is a good one, I think, just to be sure.

Thank you.

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Okay.

That the committee conduct a study of the Canada Summer Jobs Program; that all aspects of program operation in 2020 be examined, with comparison to previous years; that riding by riding data be examined from the government as it relates to the program; that any other aspect of the program that the committee deems necessary be studied; that the witnesses include the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Employment and Social Development Canada staff and other witnesses the committee deems necessary; that this study be completed by September 21, 2020; that the committee present its findings to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, a comprehensive response be requested from the government.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Mr. Albas; you did that well.

Next, I recognize Ms. Young, please.

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kate Young Liberal London West, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to my colleague across the aisle for bringing this up.

We know that the Canada summer jobs program is very important, and I firmly support studying the dynamics of the program for 2020 as it relates to the previous years. There's no question it will be a worthy study. As we know, COVID-19 has really shaken up the program, and a number of organizations' plans regarding their applications have changed.

However, I'm concerned about the timing and the date of the program, so I would like to propose the following amendment to the motion, and I hope it will be seen by the honourable member as a friendly amendment. I propose that the lines “that this study be completed by September 21, 2020” be replaced with “that this study be completed no later than December 15, 2020”.

That will at least allow us to get through most of the program and be able to have a report before the end of the year.

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

All right.

Mr. Albas, do you have any comment on whether you consider that to be a friendly amendment, or shall we proceed to debate on it?

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Mr. Chair, I totally appreciate the member of Parliament's suggestion. Usually I would suggest that, particularly for the government, if they want to put forward a friendly amendment, they should perhaps let us know ahead of time so we can consider these things. They've had this since June 4. If she wants to make a formal motion, we'll let democracy decide and then we'll go from there.

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Fair enough. The discussion now is on the amendment to change the date of completion from September 21, 2020 to “no later than December 15, 2020”.

Ms. Kwan.

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Now we have an amendment to change the timeline, but related to the motion, I was wondering if the motion actually incorporates a study of only this year in terms of the Canada summer jobs program and the changes incorporated within it, or whether it also includes, more generally, the rollout of the Canada summer jobs program. There are other aspects of the program that I think would be worth studying, and hopefully the motion is not just for the changes related to the program for this year.

I just need a clarification on that. It ties into the whole timeline issue for me in terms of my consideration.

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Mr. Albas, do you want to offer your intentions? Go ahead.

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I appreciate MP Kwan's inquiry here. It does say there will be a comparison with previous years. Obviously this year is quite different.

On the second part of the motion, though, it does say “other witnesses the committee deems necessary” and “any other aspect of the program that the committee deems necessary [to] be studied”. There's significant flexibility.

What we've said is that we want to study this year in light of previous years, but if a particular member such as you wants to question further a particular aspect that you think is important, I think the motion is quite open for you to do that.