Human Resources Committee on Oct. 31st, 2024

[Fernand Thibodeau]

I just wanted to mention that peat here—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

No. Thank you, Mr. Thibodeau. You can do that if you're questioned again.

We'll go to Mr. Aitchison for five minutes.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all of the witnesses here.

It's interesting. I looked through a breakdown of industries in which seasonal work is very common. I come from an area called Parry Sound—Muskoka, which is, I think, reasonably well known as an area with a lot of recreation, seasonal-type work and people in building. There's a lot of forestry and construction, as well as accommodation and food services. It's all very common in my area. In my previous life before getting here, I talked to a lot of folks in the resort industry about the challenges they face. This is clearly a big part of it.

I guess this is for everybody, but I'll start with Paul in Collingwood, since he probably know the area pretty well, too.

The housing crisis has been an issue in these industries in my community. I'm assuming it is in yours as well. Affordability, generally speaking, is part of the issue here. The housing challenge is exacerbating the situation we're here to talk about today.

Would you say that's a fair statement? Could you comment on that?

[Paul Pinchbeck]

It is absolutely a fair statement. Although Canadian ski areas continue to invest in employee housing, it does not meet the needs of individuals who wish to come in and build lives in these communities. I think you're very perceptive to understand that this impacts our ability to continue to have great employees.

The suggestions that we would have, very similar to my colleagues.... Lowering the minimum hours for qualification and extending the number of weeks would ease the opportunity for people entering communities to work in seasonal positions. It might be the spouse of someone who has a full-time job. It makes living in a community, raising children and attaining what we might call the Canadian dream much easier.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Okay. Thanks for that.

Ms. Sirois, does your region have a housing crisis too?

[Line Sirois]

Yes, absolutely. Outdoor workers in our region are shuttled in by air, and many businesses buy housing to accommodate them. Consequently, it's harder for people who would like to come and live here to access adequate housing since many houses have become seasonal: many workers come here in summer but return to their homes in winter.

It's also very hard for people to pay for housing in winter when employment insurance benefits amount to only 55% of their wages. The cost of living is now enormous, which is why we want the benefit rate to be increased to at least 70%.

Even though we have an enormous province and live on a coast 1,400 kilometres long, the problem is the same everywhere: There's a shortage of housing, including social and affordable housing. Newly built housing is intended for workers who come here in summer and leave in winter. It's quite a disturbing situation for the region's economy.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Thank you, Ms. Sirois.

Mr. Thibodeau, I'd like to ask you the same question.

[Fernand Thibodeau]

There's a housing crisis in New Brunswick.

Many foreign workers come here to meet the labour demand of seasonal industries because our population is rapidly aging. In addition, rents are appalling and, in some instances, so high that people who have housing have difficulty paying for it, especially when employment insurance benefits amount to 55% of their income.

The new provincial government has committed to building new housing for these people, and I'm proud of that, but I'd also like to see rents that are commensurate with their incomes. It's important for people to have good housing to live and work in. As in Ms. Sirois' region, we also have foreign workers who are leaving because they can't live here. So it's important that housing prices be low so these people can live properly and—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Thibodeau.

[Fernand Thibodeau]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Aitchison.

We'll now go to Mr. Van Bynen for five minutes.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is interesting research that we're doing. Some of the information we've received from the Library of Parliament, would that routinely be part of the reports that come out, or do we have to introduce the information relative to the provinces, etc., that have different levels of unemployment? How do we introduce that into evidence, or does that routinely become part of the evidence?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

During drafting instructions, you could request that the information provided to the committee on this particular issue from the Library of Parliament would be—

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

—especially if you reference it in your comments.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Good. Thank you.

I think that's very informative information, and if we're going to review the unemployment insurance process, then I think that information would be very helpful in developing new strategies, if necessary.

I'm hearing that regulations and the criteria in the existing regime are harsh, and that prompts some additional reviews. I'm also hearing that we're focusing on seasonal workers as opposed to seasonal industries, so that might be a perspective that we need to give some consideration to, if there are going to be any further studies going forward.

I'll ask my questions to each of the panellists, if you could just be brief.

To what extent does the black hole disproportionately impact specific groups of seasonal workers?

I'll start with Ms. Sirois.

[Line Sirois]

Yes, the impact of the employment insurance black hole in our region is harder on women who work in the seasonal industry. They can't leave their region and go to work in the major centres because they generally have children and aging parents to care for, and the percentage of women who are in that situation is quite disturbing. Women in the labour force are getting poorer.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Pinchbeck.

[Paul Pinchbeck]

Thank you.

I'd like to echo Madame Sirois' comments. In our ski areas, we find that women employees are often in the most seasonal of jobs, again, because of the family responsibilities they both endure and enjoy at times.

I'd also like to point out that, because Canada's ski areas exist in a largely rural environment, this is one of the key factors in attracting some of our newest citizens to rural communities; it's the availability of jobs. We're a very popular opportunity for jobs, but we are also looked upon as highly seasonal and, therefore, not stable at all.

Thank you.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Thibodeau.

[Fernand Thibodeau]

For us in New Brunswick as well, the employment insurance black hole affects many women who work in fish processing plants and other seasonal jobs. However, we also have men who work in the peat, fishing and other industries. Given the EI rate that we have in our large regions, the black hole makes it increasingly difficult for these people to get reasonable EI benefits.

It's true that women are in a special situation because they also have to take care of the home, their children and so on. Consequently, the black hole hits them even harder than it hits men. However, many fishermen and other men work in the seasonal industry and also have to—

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

I have five minutes. You have my apologies for cutting you off.

It's interesting that no one mentioned any specific age groups. I'm wondering if there are any specific age groups. If you could, please say yes and identify the specific age groups.

I'll go back to Ms. Sirois.

[Line Sirois]

We're now seeing that young people don't have as much access to the measures that the federal government introduces to assist seasonal industry workers. To be eligible for five additional weeks of benefits, they must have worked in the industry for at least three years and have filed three EI claims.

In addition, it's much harder for the aging population to qualify for employment insurance because the work is physically demanding and people have to work—

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

At this time I'd like to have an answer from the other two witnesses as well, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You're out of time.

Mr. Thibodeau, you have the floor.