Cliff C. Groen Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development

Alexis Conrad Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Mark Perlman Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development

Stephanie Hébert Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Wilson

4 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

In August, I submitted a motion to convert the CERB into a permanent, guaranteed livable basic income. This is an idea, as many people around the table know, that's supported by the majority of Canadians. We already have guaranteed income programs such as the GIS. We know, however, it's not livable. I've been bringing that up a lot recently, particularly with the extra costs that seniors face in regard to pharmacare.

Are you in support of a universal pharmacare program to ensure that seniors get the medication they need and don't have to choose between medication and rent?

4 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

Absolutely. That is a choice we don't want seniors to have to make. We don't want any Canadian to have to choose between trying to take their drugs and putting food on the table. Yes, through the throne speech—

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Sorry; I have limited time and I'm quite concerned about seniors in my riding. Will you vote in favour of the universal pharmacare bill being proposed by the NDP?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

We have committed in our throne speech to accelerate steps to achieve national, universal pharmacare. That's what I'll be working hard to provide and deliver.

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

With all due respect, Minister, we've been waiting 30 years for the Liberal government to put in place pharmacare. I think seniors have been patient enough, seniors in my riding who are literally not taking medication so that they don't end up on the streets. That's the point it's at.

Minister, we know that seniors have been the most impacted during the pandemic, which is why, in light of everything that they are facing, including mental health impacts as a result of social isolation—

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Peter Kent

Thank you, Ms. Gazan. You're just over time.

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

I'm sorry. I have a million questions.

Thank you, Minister.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Peter Kent

Moving now to the second round of questions, a five-minute round, we begin with Mr. Schmale, representing the Conservatives.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Minister, for your comments today.

Minister, I understand there were some changes to the New Horizons due to COVID-19 and that recipients could use funding from 2018 through 2019 on activities not previously approved in response to the pandemic, as long as it was spent on eligible activities.

Can you provide details on how much money was redirected to these eligible activities, and can you comment on how the department makes these decisions on changes? How is it monitoring the effectiveness of these changes?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

Thank you very much.

We allowed organizations that received money in January—that was 2019-20 money—to see how they could modify their programs. We had a series of potential opportunities that they could modify to deliver.

These would include helping with transportation of seniors to necessary appointments, connecting them with devices and even paying volunteers. We know that in many cases the volunteer pool was drying up, because volunteers are often seniors and they were staying home. It was, then, to help get services and to be able to pay volunteers. There were a series of things that we had not done ever before that allowed these organizations to change their programs so as to deliver in a pandemic environment.

I'll turn it over to the officials to give you the actual numbers, because I don't have the numbers in front of me right now.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

For the sake of time, I'll follow up with them in the next round, if that's okay, Minister.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

That's fine with me.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

I will ask them the same question. This will give them time to prepare.

I notice on your website, Minister, that a proponent needs to follow up on a proposal through an online form, if I'm correct.

There are no service standards mentioned on that page. I trust there are some. If there are, what are the service standards that you're using to respond to these requests?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

What we're looking at is the number of seniors served and how well the organizations are meeting the intent of our program.

I'm not sure what exactly you're getting at, but in terms of allowing them to proceed with delivering a change in the program from the one they had been approved to deliver, it was a question of how well they were able to meet the new criteria and how many seniors they were going to be able to support.

We then basically approved them to move ahead to make that change and deliver.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Okay.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

I think, though, that what you're talking about is going forward—or are you talking about the past? That's what I wasn't quite clear on.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

It was more about the past, with regard to proponents' needing to follow up.

November 26th, 2020 / 4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

What you're seeing on the website now is the going forward.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Perfect. Thank you.

Minister, an organization in my riding, Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon, has been trying to get information from your department for two intakes now.

In an email to me, they state, “We have been trying to get an answer from the department for quite awhile. It's too bad. We would love to provide more opportunities for seniors at Globus Theatre so this would be a great program for us. I wish there was more communication from that department.”

It really is too bad. Their message rings true; it is a great organization. They do a lot of great work for seniors and the community at large.

Minister, are there any plans to make it easier for proponents to contact your department, COVID or no COVID?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

Absolutely. I am very disappointed to hear that Bobcaygeon is having difficulty connecting with us, because I have been hearing lots of good alternative stories from people who have been having excellent service from our department in terms of getting answers to questions.

Why don't you make sure that I get that detail from Bobcaygeon? We will then get back to them to let them know what they can do to strengthen their applications so as to be successful in the future. We can hopefully help them be better equipped in their application to be successful.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

That's very kind of you. Thank you, Minister. I appreciate it.

Minister, as was mentioned in earlier questioning, we all know about isolation during COVID-19. Rural Internet connectivity is an issue coming up all over the place, and it affects people of all ages, but it's seniors who are feeling isolated the most, in many cases.

I know you're aware of this. You recently took part in a town hall with some of your colleagues, as we heard in earlier questioning.

We have a serious problem. Can you tell me what your department is doing to raise this issue on behalf of seniors with other ministers within your government?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Deb Schulte Liberal King—Vaughan, ON

Thank you very much.

I can tell you that I sit on several different caucuses with my colleagues, and this issue is raised. We have had a good response with the minister who's responsible, Minister Monsef, and recently there was an announcement of some excellent funding for the universal broadband fund and having a quick stream to have short-term solutions and then a longer-term solution. We put additional funding as a government into it because we recognize how incredibly important being connected is to be able to have good health services, education services, and for seniors social services too.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Chair, how much time do I have?

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Peter Kent

You have just over a minute, Mr. Schmale.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Perfect. Thank you.

Minister, we're glad that there is now a Minister for Seniors in the government. Unfortunately, it took a while from 2015 to get one, and we're glad there is one in place now.

I have had many constituents, including Marie and Keith Traynor from Lindsay, contact my office to express their very deep concerns regarding the lack of support for seniors during COVID-19. We heard little in the throne speech in regard to seniors. There were a few reannouncements and that type of thing.

I think we all can agree that seniors have been paying taxes their whole lives. They need to live without worry in their golden years.

Seniors want to know if the government has plans to increase the age credit to put more money in their pockets, and is there anything in the works to protect pension funds by requiring federally regulated companies to report on fund solvency?