Evidence of meeting #133 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 work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
We now have an amendment on the floor. We'll proceed to a discussion on the amendment.
I have Madame Chabot, Mr. Fragiskatos and Mr. Coteau on the amendment.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I want to say two things.
First, I want to request that we adjourn debate to allow our guests to continue their testimony.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
We're voting on adjourning discussion on the amendment to the motion by Mrs. Falk. The vote is on the motion by Ms. Chabot to adjourn discussion on the amendment, which would adjourn discussion on the motion.
We're having a recorded vote.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
Liberal
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
Was that an adjournment on the amendment? Can I get some clarification of the Standing Order that says that the whole debate is adjourned?
Liberal
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Ariane Calvert
Ms. Chabot moved the dilatory motion to adjourn debate on the discussion of the motion. The discussion was on the amendment moved by Ms. Falk, so the dilatory motion would still adjourn debate on the discussion of the motion as a whole.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
In the meantime, we're returning to the witnesses.
I have Mr. Aitchison as the next questioner.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
That's exciting. Thank you.
We were just getting warmed up, Ms. Krayden, and I'm excited to get back on this again.
We were talking about the heinous impact of the carbon tax on your industry. If we can get back to that, can you help the committee understand the magnitude of the cost of the carbon tax to the cost of operating your industry?
Agricultural Workforce Expert, Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association
It's the same for mushroom farms as it is for greenhouses, chicken barns and all livestock barns. We have to heat the barns in the winter, because of Canada's cold weather. We get no exemptions for the cost of all the gas that we use to heat the barns. The carbon tax is increasing at its regular times, and it's very expensive. Our farmers have submitted invoices showing the cost of the carbon tax.
I am going to be sending a submission based on my comments, and other additional information we didn't get to, on the issues we're having with work permits and housing, but I can also include the costs, because we have figured them out. They're astronomical, and they're getting larger and larger. It's adding to the inflationary costs. It is also not just the gas for the farm. There's an added cost within the supply chain. We know it's adding to the price of food, because the price goes up for the trucker, the farm where the fertilizer is coming from and all of the inputs on which there's a carbon tax.
It is very much cumulative, and the farmers are feeling it. They have to absorb all these costs.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
It may not be a common thing, but what's the most common fuel used in heating the greenhouses? Is it—
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I want to ask you what the relevance is to this discussion on seasonal workers and EI.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
The motion is broad. It's on workers in the seasonal industry and the employment insurance program.
I will allow you to continue, Mr. Aitchison.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I thought it was sufficient enough that the witness, who is volunteering her time to be here, brought the issue up—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I will remind the member and the witness that this is on the seasonal economy and the workers in it.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I think the witness did point out the seasonal nature of Canada with seasonal work, and that the cost of operating seasonally is impacted as well.
I'll go back to my point before I was so rudely interrupted. I want to get back to the types of fuels that are used.
Is propane probably the most common fuel that's used?
Agricultural Workforce Expert, Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association
A lot of time it's natural gas.
Agricultural Workforce Expert, Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association
Some farms have converted from propane to natural gas.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
That's obviously a massive impact, this carbon tax, but I'm wondering about another tax.
I talk a lot about housing because that's my portfolio. It's really a passion of mine. There's the impact of these costs on investment in housing. The government also made some changes recently to the capital gains inclusion rate making it a bigger bit of a tax grab.
Has that had an impact on your industry as well?