Evidence of meeting #14 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was seniors.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I think we almost are.
I read consensus to send the letter as is.
Mr. Schmale, you have the floor.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
That's perfect, Chair.
I believe everyone has a copy of the notice of motion—it's basically another letter. If possible.... The chair is nodding yes. I don't have everyone else on the screen.
It's basically to reach out to CMHC in another letter. Do you want me to read the motion, Chair, or can I just talk about it? What would you prefer?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
It might be better if you read it, just in case people don't have it in front of them.
Go ahead, please.
February 2nd, 2021 / 4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Okay. Perfect.
This motion came out of questions to the head of CMHC when he was asked about the costs associated with rebranding. At that point, he mentioned that there were no costs, but according to a story done with Blacklock, it turns out that is false.
Here's the motion I put to the committee, and, hopefully, we can send the letter to Evan Siddall:
That, in light of a recent media report [“CMHC Hid Costs from MPs.” 2020-12-18, Blacklock's Reporter.] highlighting an apparent conflict between information found in documents of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and testimony provided to this committee by Mr. Evan Siddall, CEO of CMHC, the Committee Clerk write to Mr. Siddall requesting the following: (1) That the CMHC table with the committee “Access to Information Request AF-2020-00087/ML,” (2) that Mr. Siddall be invited to provide a written statement clarifying his previous testimony in light of these documents, and provide the precise dollar figures and itemized breakdown of how all funds were spent on CMHC's rebranding effort; (3) that these actions be completed within 10 business days of the CMHC's receipt of the Clerk's correspondence.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Schmale.
The motion is in order. The debate is on the motion.
Madame Chabot, go ahead.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I would like to ask a question.
Basically, the objective of this motion, of sending the letter, is that we are assuming that the testimony was not appropriate, as I understand it, because it was based on the newspaper article. Have you confirmed that? I am trying to understand what is leading us to raise questions about it, that's all.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Madame Chabot. The newspaper article was based on documents that were found in an access to information request by another member of Parliament. That's how the information came to light. The access to information request for the documents does show that there was in fact a cost.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
Yes, I have no problem with the letter.
It just needs to be cleared up. We need to understand what they contemplated when they took the action. As much as I struggle with the French translation of “mortgage” to hypothèque, other than that, I don't see a significant reason to change it. I'm sure “mortgage” is equally complicated in the other direction. I think finding out what happened is critically important.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Are there any other interventions on this?
Okay. That's great. I think what's being asked for in terms of the drafting of the letter is very straightforward.
Mr. Schmale, we'll make sure that you get a look at a draft, but I don't think that we need to convene as a full committee to authorize the text. We'll get something drafted and get it sent off.
There are no further interventions on the topic. Okay. I think we can consider that dealt with.
Thank you, everyone—
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
I'm new to this. I'm just reading this line: “provide the precise dollar figures and itemized breakdown of how all funds were spent on CMHC’s rebranding effort”.
I don't know how complex this is or what is the size of this fund. I just wonder if 10 business days are enough for them to compile that information. If these numbers are all readily available, maybe it's a small effort. I just don't know. I'm looking to colleagues—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
Yes. It was done in-house, so it's not a complex project.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
We're just trying to figure out what was spent and why it was done, and get the details so that we have a reconciliation between the article and the statement made at committee.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Okay. Thanks, everyone.
I think the last thing that I want to cover off is the next couple of meetings.
On Thursday, it's the rapid housing initiative update. I regret to inform you that the minister is not available. We do have officials from CMHC and we do have the parliamentary secretary to the minister, who is prepared to come before the committee, make a presentation and take your questions. That's this Thursday.
Then we have a constituency week and, after that, the Parliamentary Budget Officer. We had asked the Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide us a summary of his comments by February 10. The response we got was that he could only provide the summary in English. Subject to the direction of the committee, my inclination would be to go back to the PBO to let him know that we can't accept something in one language, and that when it's ready in both languages we will accept it, and we'd like it to be produced in a timely fashion.
There are those two things by way of update, but the floor is open for comments with respect to those items or anything else you want to raise.
Mr. Vaughan, you have the floor.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I totally agree with you, Mr. Chair. We cannot accept a communication in one language only. We expect to have the communication in both languages, within a reasonable timeframe.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
The Parliamentary Budget Officer should have known that.
Mr. Schmale, please go ahead.