Human Resources Committee on March 23rd, 2021

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

Every time we talk about technology, there is a failure. I jinx it sometimes.

[Pierre Laliberté]

That must be it.

Listen, I wish I had the exact figures in front of me. I do know that there are some plans to transition the system out of its current state, but it's something that will be done through a number of years. As I am made to understand, it will be done with great care not to reproduce some mistakes that were made in previous—

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

You're referring to Phoenix and this notion that you can go to a private sector firm, just snap your fingers and things will change. That's not the way to follow. Is that what you're suggesting?

[Pierre Laliberté]

Well, I was referring to the fact that you need the old system as backup, in case—

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

Again, you can't go to Star Trek and snap your fingers. Otherwise, you'll end up with Phoenix.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Vaughan.

Thank you, Mr. Laliberté.

Colleagues, that takes us to the appointed hour or a little past.

Mr. Laliberté and Dr. Forget, the work you do is extremely important to so many people, in the area of basic income and poverty eradication. There are so many people who are impacted by your work. So many people who need to rely on the EI system are extremely dependent on your good work. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for being with us here today to discuss your work. We very much appreciate the patient and professional way in which you fielded the questions.

With that, colleagues, do we have consent to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I believe I read consent in the room.

Thank you so much, everyone. We'll see you in a couple of days.

Thanks again to our witnesses for being with us.

The meeting is adjourned.