Evidence of meeting #21 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 changes.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Chair, you should tell everyone in the House about how well all the parties worked together to get Bill C-24 passed to help Canadians.
Liberal
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Chairman, what about the reprint of the bill? I think we still have one more vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
There we go. There's no need to reprint an unamended bill.
I learned something new today. In fact, I learned a lot new today.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
That's unless you'd like to revisit the amendment, Anthony. I'm game for that.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Dan, you can call me afterwards and we can chat about it all you want.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The committee's work is indeed to return this bill rapidly, tomorrow, to the House. Thousands of workers will thank us for it.
I'd like to conclude by asking the opposition parties to consider Bill C-265, which will be tabled and debated in less than a month, and in which we will be requesting a permanent amendment to the special sickness benefits, an amendment which would increase the number of weeks from 15 to 50. It would be a wonderful opportunity for the opposition parties and the government to vote in favour of the bill.
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
You mentioned that we could talk a bit about committee business, just quickly, since our agenda changed today and we didn't have Minister Qualtrough come to talk about supplementary and main estimates. I just wanted you to address that and let us know when that will be happening or how we're going to fix that to make sure she comes here before we vote on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Sure. I think that's in order, Ms. Dancho. Thanks for raising it.
Let's excuse the witnesses first.
To our colleagues from ESDC, thank you so much for being with us. Thanks for your patience as we worked through the interruptions, and thanks for the work you have done on this bill and, more generally, in the pandemic. I really don't think we can say enough about the outstanding work that's been done right across the public service, but most especially within your department. We appreciate what you are doing for Canadians, and we appreciate what you are doing to help support us in our work. We thank you for being with us.
As I like to say, you're welcome to stay, but you're free to leave. Thank you so much.
Ms. Dancho raised a good point. Our subcommittee report has been sideswiped by the unanimous consent motion that resulted in the work we did here today. We adopted that subcommittee report, and we have mains and supplementaries that we have committed to deal with. I am going to suggest that we inquire of the ministers with respect to their availability and get them before the committee as soon as possible.
It is entirely possible that the date for the supplementaries will pass us by, but it's unlikely that will happen with respect to the mains.
I think the spirit of the committee motions was that we want ministers before us to speak to the supplementaries and the mains, so I would suggest that we extend an invitation and bring them in at the first available opportunity. That would be my two cents on it, because I don't know the ministers' schedules.
The floor is open for any further discussion on the topic of future business.
Mr. Kusmierczyk.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To clarify, what would be the deadline for us to report on the supplementaries and the mains?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I believe for the mains, it is the end of May. The supplementaries I believe are the end of next week, depending on when allotted days are scheduled. It could even be sooner than that.
I know that we have the Minister of Seniors committed for our next meeting, but the commitments from Minister Hussen and Minister Qualtrough have been wiped aside by the business of the House that we just dealt with. That's where we are on that.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Chair, I believe that the 23rd or the 25th would be the target dates, if I'm not mistaken, to have Minister Qualtrough appear on the supplementaries.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Right, and we had pencilled in consideration of the draft report on housing on the 25th.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Those are the only two meetings that we have scheduled before the two-week break at Easter. That's where we are.
As it stands now, I don't think we have a confirmed date with Minister Qualtrough.
Am I right on that, Madam Clerk?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Okay.
We have Mr. Vaughan and Ms. Dancho with their hands raised.
I will recognize Mr. Vaughan.