Human Resources Committee on Nov. 24th, 2020

[Gary Robertson]

That is correct, Minister.

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

Okay. Thank you.

If there is a complaint with respect to the process, then one can take that to the CIRB for a decision.

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

Are you aware of the complaint being lodged with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board?

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

With respect to this particular...?

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

Yes. Was it was raised beyond going to a headline in the newspaper? Was it raised through formal channels through the union to the review board?

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

I have not been made aware of that. It could still be in the process of coming to me, but as of yet, I have not been made aware of that.

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

Okay.

Perhaps if we could get a report back as to whether or not a formal complaint has been lodged, or whether it's just a complaint through the media. That would be helpful.

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

Yes.

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

In terms of the mental health work and the investments we made as a top-up to the Canada Health Act, above and beyond the inflationary increase, those dollars are at the discretion of the provinces to spend. It's up to them to decide whether or not to carve them into workplace environments under provincial jurisdiction.

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

That is correct, yes.

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

Is there a reporting mechanism for this that allows us to figure out how provinces have spent those dollars in the health care sector, or are they largely left to their own devices to decide how to use those monies?

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

I can speak to my experience as minister of seniors with the home care and palliative care piece. There are agreements that go back and forth, and there are sort of pockets, but with respect to a detailed analysis, that does not take place. There is accountability to say “this has been spent in this particular area”, but this now would fall under the Minister of Health with respect to the terms of the mental health transfer.

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

For example, if we wanted to direct mental health support to front-line workers, in particular those working in long-term care facilities and in supportive housing facilities doing work around addiction control, who have had a really difficult year this year with COVID and the opioid crisis, and if we wanted to get those details, it would be a conversation with provincial ministers that would produce the information we were looking for. It's not simply a federal expenditure or a line item on the budget.

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

That's correct.

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

In terms of mental health support in the federal sector, are you seeing areas that we need to start to study or advocate for that would provide this committee with an opportunity to add to the federal government's initiatives around mental heath? Are there suggested areas of study you would like to see us work on that are related to your field of ministerial responsibility?

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

For me it's moving forward with the mandate item, which is mental health as part of occupational health and safety and, yes, what supports work best with workers. I've had those conversations as I've spoken with unions, labour and employers to ask what supports are needed. Some employers actually create their own support system and they pay for the system, and that is offered to the employees in their sites.

Yes, definitely, it's what supports are most beneficial, and also, since some companies are actually making investments, perhaps the value of those investments and the impact the dollars have had would be helpful.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Vaughan.

Thank you, Madam Minister, and thank you so much for being with us. We're going to suspend now briefly to give you a chance to disconnect. I understand that we have a couple of other officials who are going to join us for the second hour.

Minister, thanks again for being with us. It's always a pleasure to have you here. We hope you have a wonderful evening, and we'll see you before too long.

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

Thank you so much.

I want to thank each and every one of you. I thought that was a very respectful dialogue and I appreciate the input. Always always feel free to reach out. Thanks so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thanks, Minister.

We're suspended for three minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

We're back in session.

In addition to the witnesses that were introduced at the outset of the meeting, I would like to welcome one additional witnesses, Elisha Ram, associate assistant deputy minister, skills and employment branch.

We're going to begin now with rounds of questions, beginning with the Conservatives.

I believe it's Ms. Falk. Is it?

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

I believe it's MP Schmale.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

I'd say Brad Vis.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Okay. I'm ready to go.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Vis, you have six minutes. Go ahead.