Human Resources Committee on Feb. 27th, 2020

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you for tabling this motion, Mr. Dong.

I found it quite timely because, as I was looking at the recent supplementary estimates that were provided to our committee, one of the major items was the $180 million of student loans listed by the Government of Canada that have not been repaid.

I think that relates to the challenges that some Canadians face when attending post-secondary education. They cannot pay, and are not paying, and taxpayers are on the hook for those discrepancies as well.

If the member would be open to hearing a little more about what the department has to say about the line item in supplementary estimates (B) and the $180 million listed, I would be in support of this motion.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I'm not sure whether this is a discussion about a potential amendment to this motion, or whether, if we choose this study, this will be something we want to discuss when we do the study, to include government bureaucrats to talk to us about it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I may be able to help.

If the item is in the supplementary (B)s, as you've indicated, then we expect the ministers are going to accept an invitation to come to us to discuss the supplementary (B)s. That topic is entirely fair game in the course of those proceedings.

Is that helpful?

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Yes.

Mrs. Kusie, do you have any comments on that?

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

No.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

If we're able to cover that in supplementary (B)s, I'm fine keeping the motion in its current form.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

First of all, I want to thank the member for his contribution at the provincial level. I find it funny that we characterize it as “life”; I didn't think politicians had a life.

Obviously, some of these lines of questioning may come up when officials come. I think the goal here is to focus on how we make it so that Canadian families, especially those with student loan debts, can get ahead.

I'd be very supportive of this, and very supportive of Mr. Vis getting all the answers he needs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there any further discussion on the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

We do have a couple of remaining notices of motions. Since they are there, I'll put them forward one at a time.

I have nothing new to bring, as I did with the Canada child benefit today. To be clear, this isn't endless motions, Mr. Vaughan, although I'm sure it must feel like it. I try to be reasonable and empathetic.

My colleague Rosemary Falk unfortunately had to leave the meeting early. Mr. Barrett, it's good to see you here. Thanks for taking the time to join us.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

It's a pleasure.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I will move her motion then:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee study the Canada Summers Jobs Program to measure the program outcomes considering, but not limited to, the changes to the application process, uncertainty around program timelines, increased investments in the program and cuts to student work hours; that the committee reports its finding, including its recommendations, to the House and the government respond to the committee’s recommendations.

I believe my colleague from the Bloc might have an amendment to this, which we welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

The motion is in order.

I gather that it has been circulated to you in both languages.

Go ahead, Ms. Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

We have not rewritten the motion and our amendment is a simple one. It deletes the words “considering, but limited to, the changes to the application process, uncertainty around program timelines, increased investments in the program and cuts to students work hours” and so reads as follows:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee study the Canada Summer Jobs Program to measure the program outcomes; that the committee reports its finding, including its recommendations, to the House and the government respond to the committee’s recommendations.

We want to measure the results of the program, which could include other factros. In our view, the results, and the committee's study would be enough for us to see what must be kept. We have to determine whether the program is effective and what its results are. We do not have to review it in its entirety if it is not necessary to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

We have an amendment to the original motion.

Is there debate on the amendment? We have an amendment to the motion before us, so the debate is now on the amendment.

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Chabot and discuss the motion with her.

Ms. Falk and I agree with the motion that Ms. Chabot is proposing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are we ready for the question? This is on the amendment to the motion.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

On the main motion as amended, are there any further interventions?

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Thank you.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I will present the last motion we had on notice:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee study the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive to measure the program’s outcomes, including but not limited to, usage of the program, the effectiveness of improving home ownership affordability and the impact on housing market prices; and that the committee reports its findings, including recommendations, to the House.

As I've always stated, Parliamentary Secretary Vaughan has much more knowledge and information regarding this, but as we have seen reported recently in the media, the uptake of the incentive has not been incredibly effective, nor has it seemed to serve the purpose of working with the stress test to allow for greater entry into home ownership for Canadians.

I am encouraged. I've heard mumblings of potential changes within budget 2020 to the first-time home buyer incentive.

This is a study that is dear to me, coming from a suburban riding where I am looking to see families purchase their first homes. As well, I think this program is an important part of moving individuals along the housing continuum, another idea that I believe the government supports. If I'm incorrect, please correct me.

For this reason, we have put this study forward, and I hope the committee will support this motion with the intention of looking for housing solutions across the continuum.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mrs. Kusie.

You have heard the motion. The motion appears to be in order. Are there any further interventions?

We have Mr. Turnbull, and then Mr. Dong.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

The first-time home buyer incentive is relatively new. I agree with the intent of the motion; I just wonder whether it's a bit too early to evaluate the full outcomes of this incentive program. I think we can all say we believe in it, but it can certainly benefit from evaluation in the future. I wonder whether we should wait another year, see how the uptake is this spring, when I think we will see a massive uptake, and then address the issues about a year from now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

My point is similar to Mr. Turnbull's. It's a relatively new program. I hear much in my riding in support of it, but I don't have a handle on whether, having seen it in action, people after their participation find that they have experienced difficulties or not. I haven't heard.

I wonder whether it's too soon to do this study. I just read the motion; it's a very worthy motion to look at, but I wonder whether its timing may be too soon.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Albas.