Human Resources Committee on April 15th, 2024

Evidence of meeting #108 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was strikes.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-58

MPs speaking

Bobby Morrissey
Tracy Gray
Wayne Long
Scott Aitchison
Louise Chabot
Alexandre Boulerice
Kyle Seeback
Chad Collins
Terry Sheehan
Peter Fragiskatos

Also speaking

Sean Strickland  Executive Director, Canada's Building Trades Unions
Mariam Abou-Dib  Executive Director, Government Affairs, Teamsters Canada
Nicolas Lapierre  Assistant to the Quebec Director, United Steelworkers Union
Charles Smith  Associate Professor, Political Science, Saint Thomas More College, As an Individual
Mark Hancock  National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Donna Hokiro  President, United Steelworkers Local 1944
Annick Desjardins  Executive Assistant, National President's Office, Canadian Union of Public Employees

April 15th, 2024 / 5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's interesting how the Conservatives, when they put forward their motions, reveal a whole lot about what they actually stand for. This is the second time they have interrupted very important meetings on this bill with motions of their own.

Further to that—again all about Conservative motions showing us who they really are—in December, the Conservative Party voted against funding for the Canada disability benefit. The members my colleague just mentioned are members on this side of the aisle. Mr. Turnbull is not on this committee, but he is a valued colleague because he's advocated for this. In fact, all of us on this side have done exactly that.

Tomorrow is budget 2024. I'm optimistic. I'm hopeful. I don't know what's in the budget, but because of the advocacy of Liberal members and members of the Bloc and the NDP, I'm hopeful about what could be in the budget for the Canada disability benefit.

With that in mind, Mr. Chair, I move that we adjourn debate on the motion, namely because this renders it moot and we can revisit it at a later time.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

There's been a motion to adjourn debate on the motion. I'm going to call a vote on the motion to adjourn debate only.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

Debate is adjourned on this particular motion.

We are running out of time. Will committee members indulge me for a moment or two for some committee business?

Currently for Thursday, April 18, the committee plans to hear from witnesses on Bill C‑58 for the first hour. For the second hour, we will go into committee business to conclude the consideration of the draft report on artificial intelligence. I hope for the indulgence of the committee to get to the second version as well, so committee members should be prepared to do that. Again, that's so we can create some time in June to get to housing.

Also be prepared, if we get through version 2 of the artificial intelligence report, to look at version 1 of the volunteerism study report. You will have it tomorrow. I would like to begin version 1 of the report on volunteerism in that last hour.

I'm know I'm being very ambitious, but I'm getting some nods from Mr. Aitchison.

I just wanted to give you a note on that. That's what my plans are for the second hour. Also, I'll have to get approval for five budget items to cover the scrumptious lunches we've been having at committee as well as to invite committee members.

With that, thank you for your time. We did conclude the majority of the discussion on Bill C‑58 today, so thank you.

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn?

5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

The committee is adjourned.