Human Resources Committee on Feb. 17th, 2022

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

You could also send your response to the committee in writing, as I only have two minutes and wanted to ask a second question.

[Sandra Hassan]

I'll respond quickly.

The Canada Labour Code has provisions for preventive withdrawal. You are right, however, that Quebec has different provisions that provide for, among other things, leave or guaranteed pay during such withdrawal. This is the difference between the federal and Quebec regimes.

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

Is there any work that could be done to ensure that federally regulated workers in Quebec have at least the same right?

[Sandra Hassan]

We are currently reviewing these provisions.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Chair, there is a lot of feedback and I wouldn't want it to affect my speaking time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Just a moment, we're trying to fix that.

We're fine now.

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

Thank you.

Minister, with respect to Bill C‑3, there is something I understand less well. The 10 days of sick leave were adopted so that federally regulated workers would be entitled to them. I understand that, if you wanted to apply this across Canada, given the exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces in labour matters, it would not be possible.

So I don't understand why you couldn't change the Canada Labour Code to guarantee those 10 days of sick leave, at least for federally regulated employees, as you did with labour standards. You raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour on December 29, and that applies regardless of the minimum wage rates in other provinces. So an amendment to the Canada Labour Code to provide 10 days of sick leave would at least include federally regulated workers.

You could then continue your consultations in the provinces.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Madame Chabot, thank you.

Minister, could you or your staff provide a written answer to that question? We went over quite a bit of time.

We'll now turn to Ms. Zarrillo, for your final question.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank the Minister for his commitment to mental health.

I'm concerned about the construction industry. I'm sure you know that in British Columbia, the average age of death for men has actually declined over the years. We're talking about opioid overdoses. We know that it over-indexes in the construction industry.

With aggressive housing targets, and what we know will be federally funded infrastructure coming forward, I'm wondering if there is an opportunity.... As part of your mandate letter you talk about amendments to the Labour Code as they relate to mental health, workplace stress and injury.

Could we consider or is there an opportunity to consider tradespeople to work on federally funded housing and federally funded infrastructure projects?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

It's something I would certainly have to take a look at. Yes, I couldn't agree more. This is an issue of addiction, and that is a very serious thing, something that I know, as well. Yes, let's take a look at it. I'm not deeply familiar with the problem, but I am familiar with the broader problem of addiction. I am deeply troubled by the statistic you just mentioned. It's new to me. Yes, I appreciate drawing the matter to my attention. It's very important, and I appreciate it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Zarrillo.

That concludes our time for the first hour of the committee.

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you to members of your ministry for attending and providing testimony to the committee members today.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We'll suspend for a few minutes while we transition to the next hour.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We're now out of our suspension and will formally adjourn.

So that we're clear, Minister, the issue was not you. You were coming through clearly, but the interpreters could not hear you clearly enough to do interpretation. This was cleared before, but at the last minute it didn't work.

Minister, sorry. Thank you for being available. Thank you for offering to make yourself available to come back to the committee when we can schedule it.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you so much, Minister.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

My pleasure. We'll do this again some other time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mr. Kusmierczyk, the parliamentary secretary, is now off the hook for the time being, Minister.

[Carla Qualtrough, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Thank you all. Take care.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, staff members. We'll do this again.

With that, thank you, committee members. We'll adjourn for the day.