Human Resources Committee on May 1st, 2020

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

But you have the responsibility—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Doherty. That's your time.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Chair, I just want to ask one last thing.

Minister, would you table—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

No, Mr. Doherty.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

—with this committee any of the documents to those organizations?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Doherty, that is your time. Thank you.

Next we have Ms. Young, for six minutes.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[An hon. member]

I have a point of order as well, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Turnbull.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I believe that ministers are supposed to be allowed to answer questions when they're asked them. I found, with all due respect to Mr. Doherty, that he kept interrupting the minister as she was trying to answer the question that he asked. I don't think that's how committee business should be conducted. I would ask for you to rule on that, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Turnbull.

On this point of order, I can say it is a challenge for us to ensure fairness to the witness and to the person asking the question. The person asking the question has limited time and it's fair for them to hold the minister to an answer, but there is a fine line between badgering and ensuring that the time is adequately used. I'm doing my best to find that balance.

We have another point of order.

Mr. Vaughan, go ahead.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

In the first round, we're supposed to try to figure out how to make the time for questions move equally among all committee members, as this is a parliamentary committee, not question period. With all of these points of order, the distribution of questions has not been fair to parliamentarians, and I'm contributing to it with this point of order. We all have to represent our constituencies and the organizations in our ridings, and these points of order have effectively cut off several questions for opposition members. I know the Green Party, which is asking for time, will never get time under these circumstances.

Quite often, I don't think it's a point of order that is being raised. I think it's a filibuster tactic, quite frankly, and I find it very offensive to the privileges of members of the committee. We know we only have two hours, and I think this is a delay tactic. It's used to run the clock. I would like that to be considered when points of order are raised, because it's becoming quite obvious what's happening here.

In addition, as a point of privilege, we know that interpretation is difficult, so when people talk over each other and try to interrupt each other, it is impossible to listen in this format and makes the situation even worse. We have a responsibility to listen to each other as much as we have a responsibility to talk, and I think when talking over one another happens, the time should be taken away from the next opposition member on the same side down the line, because it's an offence to all of us.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Doherty, go ahead.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I will bring our colleague back to the previous round, when the points of order were not frivolous. They were due to connectivity issues, and members on the committee could not hear the witnesses speak.

As to our line of questioning with the minister, the chair was absolutely correct that once the floor is ceded to a member, it is their time. The minister and other guests should be asked to keep their answers as succinct as possible. We know from the past that answers can be very long-winded. As I did at the outset of my questioning, we ask that when a simple yes or no answer can be given, please give it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Doherty.

Ms. Young, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Kate Young, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Minister Tassi, thank you for joining us today. This is such an important issue.

This past Tuesday was the national day of mourning for workers who have been injured or lost their job. During this pandemic, so many Canadians are working on the front lines. Whether they're health care workers, grocery store clerks or truck drivers, they are all putting themselves in harm's way so that Canadians can survive this crisis.

Minister, protecting Canadian workers is of paramount importance to everyone, and that's obvious today. A number of concerns have been raised about how workers can protect themselves and what the government should be doing to ensure their safety.

As you mentioned in your opening remarks, you are taking additional measures as we start to reopen our economy. I would like to hear about those additional measures. What do you think we'll have to navigate over the next few weeks and months?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Thanks, MP Young.

I'm very happy you made reference to the day of mourning. The Speaker began the first day, when we had our first session, with that acknowledgement. It was really important and very good to see, as it was for us as members of Parliament to take the time to acknowledge those who have suffered injuries or loss as a result of workplace situations.

With respect to protecting workers, there's no question; first and foremost, it's really important to talk about the collaborative piece. Collaboration on this file is extremely important. Right from the beginning, I reached out to all my provincial and territorial partners. I had individual calls with those partners, and subsequent to that convened an FPT meeting, where we gathered together to talk about issues. In that meeting, I brought to the table the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. That was really important, because from across the provinces and territories there was this issue about wanting evidence and standards or tips in order to provide workers with what they need to keep them safe on the front lines.

That meeting was very helpful. As a result of that, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has now created sector-specific tips. The evidence-based approach on the PPE is critical, because we want to ensure that we're using the PPE the best way we can. These sector-specific tips, which are based as well on the Public Health Agency of Canada's guidelines, are giving employees the recommended protection they need in order to carry on safely. That was very important.

In addition to that, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement has committed $2 billion to purchase PPE so that PPE can get to the places it needs to be distributed. We're working with the provinces and territories on that.

In addition to this, the Minister of Innovation has started this plan to mobilize industry launch. Here it's about companies stepping up who have expertise and are able to assist in this regard. I think this is so important. In my own riding, I have had companies come forward who were making, for example, sports apparel and who now want to make gowns. That's happening across the country, which is fantastic. There have been 2,900 conversations instituted as a result of that. With the option of trying to get Canadian products, 22,000 companies have come forward and submissions have been made with respect to getting that product available.

In addition to that, as I said in my introductory remarks, we instituted an unpaid leave. That was about ensuring that federally regulated workers who take time off because of COVID-19 do not lose their jobs. We also waived the medical certificate requirement, making it easier in these very challenging times.

Those are some of the initiatives.

[Kate Young, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you very much. That is very important.

I know that you're a vocal advocate for mental health in the workplace. In the current climate, Canadians are facing unimaginable pressure, be it personally, professionally or financially. These stresses are going to linger long after a recovery has begun and the new normal has begun.

What work has the government and your department undertaken, or plan to take, in order to address the mental health concerns of workers in all sectors?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I'm really happy you raised this question, because as I engage with both labour and industry, mental health is something that comes up repeatedly. We know that workers are facing great anxiety and pressure, and we want to be able to respond.

In terms of my own work, with 20 years as a high school chaplain, I came to recognize the difference that a little bit of mental health support can provide. It's critical that we move forward on this and provide these extra supports. There are resources out there that are excellent. The Mental Health Commission of Canada has a resource that you can go online and access.

Recently, Health Canada launched a Wellness Together portal. This is a fantastic portal. I would encourage everyone on this call to spread the information about this portal. It's a fantastic source, going from your being able to do a self-assessment right to the point of your being able to speak to somebody. This is something that I heard there was a great need for. I know the labour program is sharing this. It is a real step forward in responding to a legitimate need that exists among our workers.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Ms. Young.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Sorry. I didn't have the translation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Okay.

Ms. Chabot, you have six minutes.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, I thank you for the work you are doing.

I know that since you took on this role, you've made it a priority to speak with your workplace health and safety counterparts, including your Quebec counterpart.

This situation is worrisome. There is a lot of talk about how we've had to adjust and implement programs in response to the crisis that hit us all on March 13. I'd like to talk to you about the concerns of two categories of workers. There may be more, but I'd like to discuss two categories in particular.

I'll start with the tourism industry. This industry will be hit hard during and after the crisis. In Quebec, we're talking about 400,000 jobs. I imagine that number is much higher when you add in the rest of Canada.

I've spoken to stakeholders in this industry, and as you know, their revenues are earned within a short period, but their expenses go on all year. They are worried that the recovery will be slow. The tourism industry has some specific demands. One demand is that it wants the government to consider expanding the 75% wage subsidy over a longer period.

Could workers in this seasonal industry be considered permanent workers for an entire year?

These are issues of concern. I'd like to know how you're working with the other departments. I know that the Minister of Labour works with the Department of Employment and Social Development and, as I was told earlier, the Department of Finance.

How are you working together on these issues?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Thank you for your question, Ms. Chabot.

Thanks also for your kind words and for the level of collaboration you have demonstrated. I know we have had a meeting and you have been very gracious with your time in terms of providing me with input as we move forward, and I deeply appreciate that. This is another example of that.

I take your points with respect to tourism. You know that in my portfolio the focus is on health and safety of workers. That said, I work across my departments and ministries in order to ensure that, when we recover from this, the best recovery is possible.

The measures the government has put in place have been all about, first, protecting those who are most vulnerable, who need help immediately, and second, trying to continue the collaborative relationship, or the relationship that exists between employer and employee, so that after COVID-19, when we're in the recovery stage, those relationships can continue. That means providing supports such as the wage subsidy, CERB and rental relief. All these measures are about when we hit that recovery stage, to ensure that workers and employers can continue and recover quickly, because we want a strong recovery from this.

I want you to know that I've heard your concerns in regard to the tourism industry. In my conversations, I've heard those concerns and appreciate that input.