Human Resources Committee on April 29th, 2024

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

Thank you. I would very much appreciate it, as would my colleague Rachel Blaney.

Minister, you spoke about your extended time in Vancouver. I want to thank you for the time you gave me on a different topic when you were in Vancouver. You made time to have a talk about the—

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

I was happy for the distraction.

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

Yes.

It was about the care workers, the care economy and the gendered nature of that work, and how it's time that the care economy receives the respect and attention it deserves. These workers, as I mentioned, are mostly immigrant women and gender-diverse people.

I was pleased to see in the budget a proposal to launch a sectoral table on the care economy, as well as the intention to launch consultations on the development of a national caregiving strategy.

I wonder if you could expand on those two pieces. Give us some information about what each piece is, what timelines you have in place and how you see them rolling out.

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

I'm particularly pleased that we were successful in getting that into the budget. I also pay heed to those who have criticized us, at least initially, for not putting a substantial amount of money on it just yet. This is an excellent opportunity right now for us to sit down at the table, understand how so many of these parts of the care economy intersect and intermingle, and then come up with a plan of action.

This is all because of COVID. That's where the vulnerabilities that you and I first spoke of in Vancouver really.... By that time, we knew what had come to light, particularly with care workers who move within that care economy. It obviously covers child care, senior care and other parts of disability care. That's what we're talking about. It's the people who do that work and making sure that we look after them properly.

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

Thank you, Minister.

It may have been highlighted during COVID, but for four or five decades, there's been a lot of amazing research. People have been doing this work, and their voices just haven't been heard for four decades. I think about the women economists who have continually tried to push this issue.

My question is about the advocates who have recently started their journey to support the care economy and to highlight those workers, as well as the advocates who have decades of research. How can they reach you? How can they get involved in the sectoral table, and how can their voices be heard about this national caregiver strategy?

[Sandra Hassan]

Thank you for the question.

We're at the beginning of looking at the terms of reference and who to invite to that table. We have been receiving interest from union groups and other members. Certainly, if they want to signal their interest to the department, we will make sure, as the minister pointed out, that all of the actors in the care economy are represented at the table and that we have a wide range of perspectives presented. They can come forward to us.

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

Thank you so much.

I just want to add one point, because I heard a story of a palliative care worker who worked in homes. Their work was looking after someone who's dying. Immigrant care workers who are working in palliative care get no time for any grieving. They get no time to transition from one working home to another. That is one point that I really want to make sure of. All of them are so important, but I don't want this one around palliative care to get missed.

I also want to very quickly talk about persons with disabilities. We've heard at this committee before about the Canada disability benefit and working-age Canadians. I saw you sitting there today when we were talking about the labour code and the ability to self-identify for accommodation as a worker. If you're in a working situation, you can self-identify as having a disability, whether it's physical or mental, and receive accommodation.

I'm just wondering if you have any thoughts on how that could transition over to a Canada disability benefit that is an income supplement for the working age. Is there some kind of equity solution that would be equal to what people in the labour force receive?

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

I have not considered that yet, but I appreciate the suggestion. I also particularly appreciate the suggestion on palliative care workers.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Zarrillo.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We'll let you go from the committee. We are now beyond our time. It was 5:40 when we began.

Could I have agreement? We have a draft press release prepared to invite the public to submit briefs for the study on Bill C-322. It has been circulated. Do the members approve of the draft? It's not controversial. Do I see consensus to release that?

Madam Clerk, I'm sensing a consensus.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Minister and staff, for appearing in an abbreviated format, which spared you from speaking for five minutes.

The meeting is adjourned.