Human Resources Committee on Nov. 26th, 2020

[Kate Young, Liberal, London West, ON]

Yes, as we know, we are hopeful that in the next couple of months we will turn the corner with the COVID pandemic.

You mentioned earlier, though, various options. Have those options changed because of COVID?

[Benoît Robidoux]

Our thinking is always influenced by the level and the direction of the pandemic. That has been the case since March. We explained that to the committee before, on the—

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

You have a point of order?

Yes, Ms. Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Thank you. I did not report this, but the interpreters have twice pointed out to us that they are not able to do the interpretation, probably because of the sound from the microphone of the person speaking. I would like that to be rectified.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I wonder if we can get some guidance from interpretation. Is there a problem with one or some of the microphones? It appears that Madame Chabot isn't getting the translation from English.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Andrew Wilson]

Perhaps, Mr. Robidoux, if you could hold the microphone a little bit closer to your mouth, the sound would be better. It is fairly quiet in the room as well.

[Benoît Robidoux]

I will.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

Mr. Robidoux, I think you were in the middle of an answer. If you could, just complete your answer; then we're going to go to voting on the estimates, I think.

Go ahead, sir.

[Benoît Robidoux]

Thank you, Chair.

I was saying that when the pandemic struck in March and we were working on the CERB, we had to change the design of the benefit and the scope of it very quickly, week by week,.

I think we all at ESDC are in pandemic mode still and are thinking in the same way. It's always influenced by the dynamic of the pandemic, I can assure you.

[Kate Young, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Robidoux.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Robidoux and Ms. Young.

Colleagues, we need to leave it there, because we have some committee business, this being the last date for adoption of the main estimates. We actually have to put them to a vote.

At this point I'm going to bid the witnesses adieu and say to each of you how much we appreciate having you back. We appreciate your patience and your professionalism, and that it's very important that you not trump the minister.

We understand that your role is to provide fearless advice, and the efforts you have made to guide the government, guide the ministry and guide the country through the pandemic have not gone unnoticed, certainly by the people in this room and I think in the country as a whole.

Thank you so much, then, for being here, and thank you for the work that you do every day. You're welcome to stay, but you're free to go.

Colleagues, we are bumping up against the deadline for the reporting of the main estimates, so we need to go through a couple of formalities.

Is it now time to call the votes referred to us under the main estimates, and is there unanimous consent to consider all votes at once?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I will now call the votes on the main estimates.

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Vote 1—Reimbursement under the provisions of the National Housing Act and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act..........$2,919,967,012

(Vote 1 agreed to)

CANADIAN ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$9,121,581

Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$5,500,000

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

CANADIAN CENTRE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$4,814,487

(Vote 1 agreed to)

DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$803,327,617

Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$3,021,375,616

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Shall I report the main estimates 2020-21 to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

The vote is carried on division.

Thank you very much for the efficient disposition of that business.

The next meeting is December 1. If there is no other business, I will adjourn the meeting.

Do we have consensus to adjourn? We do.

The meeting is adjourned.