Evidence of meeting #42 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Serge Séguin  Chief Executive Officer, Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées
Connie Newman  Executive Director, Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative, Manitoba Association of Senior Centres

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Is there any discussion with respect to clauses 3 and 4?

I believe we have consensus.

(Clauses 3 and 4 agreed to)

Shall the preamble carry?

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Shall the short title carry?

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Shall the title carry?

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Shall the bill carry?

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

We will go to Madam Chabot, please.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Colleagues, I am deeply moved. I'd like to thank you for all this work. We didn't do it for ourselves; we worked across partisan lines and did so on behalf of the workers we would like to help. I think that this bill will be very important going forward. I can't thank you enough for having taken part in the process that got us to where we are now.

On another topic, since I didn't have the time to say so last time, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for the work done to prepare the report on the study of employment insurance, which was done diligently and rigorously under the sterling stewardship of our chair. I felt proud seeing it tabled in the House today. Moreover, Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank you for having told us when you were going to table the report in the House.

I'd like to thank all my colleagues for having worked so collaboratively on all matters before this committee.

And I'd like to thank you once again, Ms. Dancho. The next time, we will add another two weeks to the benefit period.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Thank you, Ms. Chabot, and congratulations.

Ms. Dancho, please.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Thank you, Madame Chabot, for those kind words. I want to echo what you said. It was great to see some collaboration today.

I wanted to conclude with one question for our Liberal colleagues about whether they're aware if their government will be providing a royal recommendation so that this can become law. I think that would be great to know and a great way to end today's work.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

I don't know if anyone knows enough to respond to that at this stage.

Are there any further interventions or is there any other business to come before the meeting?

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Chair, I would ask that perhaps the Liberal members get back to us next week, if we meet, about the royal recommendation, so that Madame Chabot and the rest of us can know whether this will have a chance to survive and be made into law.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

You can ask that, but I'm not sure that the royal recommendation is the prerogative of the people in this group. You can consider the question asked.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

You have no idea how much more I want to know about what cabinet is up to.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Ms. Chabot, please.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

You are in a good position in terms of public relations, so we will rely on you, our Liberal Party colleagues, to get an answer to this excellent question about a royal recommendation. I know that we cannot, as a committee, adopt a motion that requires royal recommendation for the bill to become law, but, as was mentioned, I think that some forms of action might be possible.

Can we expect the bill to be tabled very soon in the House? Is it in the realm of the possible, given the program? Can you give us a hint as to when this might be?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

I'll be ready to table it in the House Monday. If the bill meets all the requirements, I'll do it the next time I'm in the House.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Thank you. Excellent.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Is there any further business to come before the meeting?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

Excellent.

Thank you very much, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Cadieux and Mr. Méla, for your presence. I'm grateful we didn't have to work you any harder, but we certainly appreciate your being here.

Have an excellent weekend, everyone. We'll see you back here on Tuesday.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

Safe travels, Leah.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

We're adjourned.