Human Resources Committee on Dec. 13th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Before we begin discussion, committee members, if CPC-3 is adopted, PV-10 and NDP-7 cannot be moved as they amend the same line.

You've all heard the amendment of CPC-3.

Mr. Kusmierczyk, go ahead with discussion on CPC-3.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I just wanted to say that I very much appreciate MP Gray bringing this amendment forward. It absolutely strengthens this process. It adds an additional layer of review, transparency and accountability. More than that, it shortens the timeline for that accountability.

It very much strengthens this bill and adds confidence to what we're trying to do here. We will be supporting this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Is there any further discussion on CPC-3?

Madam Zarrillo, you have the floor.

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

I, too, wanted to thank the member for the amendment.

I want to express how difficult it has been for all of the members of this committee on the opposition side to do that balance between wanting to advance this work as quickly as possible to get support to people and having oversight. I really appreciate this. I want to acknowledge that there's a lot of hard work involved.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Is there any further discussion on CPC-3?

Seeing none, do I sense unanimous agreement on CPC-3?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Clause 12 as amended agreed to)

(Clause 13 agreed to)

(On clause 14)

We'll now move to clause 14, and we have amendment NDP-8.

Go ahead, Madam Zarrillo.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It looks like we are coming quickly to the end, so I am going to read the amendment. I move that Bill C-22, in clause 14, be amended by replacing lines 18 and 19 on page 6 with the following:

14 This Act comes into force on the first anniversary of the day on which it receives royal assent.

I will say that I am expecting that the government moves this as quickly as it can through to royal assent.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Before we get to that, if NDP-8 is adopted, PV-11 and LIB-2 cannot be moved, as they amend the same line.

Now we'll open the discussion with Mr. Long and then Madame Chabot on NDP-8.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Chair.

Through you to MP Zarrillo, I just want to thank MP Zarrillo for the work she's done on this. I know she's very passionate about this. I think this amendment hits the mark, and we can certainly support it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Madame Chabot, do you request...?

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

My understanding is that it will happen in 2023 if the bill receives royal assent in 2022, but the Liberals might aim for 2024. It would be best if the timeline were as short as possible, assuming it will meet expectations. This doesn't make a substantive change to the bill. It will still be a regulation we have no control over.

So why not 2023? If that creates the illusion that we are improving things, fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Ms. Gray, you have the floor.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would have liked to see something sooner, but based on other votes that we had earlier, I guess this is as good as we can get. It certainly would have been better to have a timeline that was sooner.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Yes, Mr. Morrice, do you want to comment?

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Just as a suggestion for the committee, if the current amendment specifies that it comes into force on the first anniversary, I wonder if there's a member of the committee who would entertain an amendment to read, “no later than the first anniversary” in case it might be done sooner.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I don't see anybody.

We'll suspend for a couple of minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We suspended at the request of Mrs. Gray.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank Mr. Morrice for the suggestion.

After consideration, I would like to move a subamendment to this amendment. It's very brief. It would be to remove the word “on” and replace it with “no later than”. Just to reiterate, I'll read what that sentence says now and then I'll read what I recommend it being changed to. I'll read it slowly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Right now, this part of this amendment reads, “This Act comes into force on the first anniversary of the day on which it receives royal assent.”

With my subamendment, it would then read, if it goes through, “This Act comes into force no later than the first anniversary of the day on which it receives royal assent.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. All committee members—

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I just realized that I think I said to remove the word “on”, but I would have to remove the word “on” and the word “the” in order for it to be grammatically correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

So that we're clear, let's go back and read it again, Mrs. Gray.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Sure thing.

My subamendment would be to remove the words “on the” and replace them with “no later than”.

No, that's wrong. Just forget what I just said. The word “the” does make sense. I apologize. Again, I would just remove the word “on” and replace it with “no later than”.

I thank the clerk for catching that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The clerk is the unbiased referee here.

Madam Zarrillo, you had your hand up.

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

I did.

I think this is an excellent demonstration of how collaboration can really work. I think this is a good change. I'll reiterate that I expect the government to move this as quickly as they can.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Are members clear now on the subamendment? I will call a vote on the subamendment to NDP-8.

Do we have unanimous consent on the subamendment?

(Subamendment agreed to)

(Amendment as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

(Clause 14 as amended agreed to)

(On the preamble)

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

On the preamble, we have PV-12.