Evidence of meeting #50 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 amendment.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Krista Wilcox  Director General, Office for Disability Issues, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mausumi Banerjee  Director, Office for Disability Issues, Department of Employment and Social Development
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Danielle Widmer

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

But I don't make that decision, as long we're clear on that.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

I have a motion that I want to share. I did share it with my colleagues at the end of last week. I move:

That the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities call upon the government to explore an immediate emergency relief benefit for persons with disabilities due to the rising costs of food and housing.

I really would like to see the government look at that seriously and look at options, because we know that this bill is needed immediately and it will take some time to get those regulations in place.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

The motion is in order.

Is there any discussion?

Madam Zarrillo, could you clarify whether you want to present this to the House?

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Yes, please.

4:55 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer

I'm just looking for clarification on whether this is a statement from the committee that will be presented as a motion, which, if adopted, will be put in the minutes, or whether you are calling upon the House to do an action.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Yes. I'm calling on the House to do an action.

4:55 p.m.

The Clerk

It's to present this as a report from the committee.

4:55 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

That's it. Yes. Exactly.

It would be similar to what we did on our codifying motion.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay.

Go ahead, Ms. Gray.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Do we have a copy of this motion in writing?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Yes. It was circulated to all committee members last week.

5 p.m.

The Clerk

I can recirculate it.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

The committee will suspend for a few moments while committee members get a chance to analyze the motion.

This will be the third break for Madame Chabot.

5 p.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

We'll resume. We suspended at the request of Ms. Gray for some consideration of the motion by Ms. Zarrillo.

You had the floor, Ms. Gray, when we suspended. Is there anything, or do we...?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Chair, we're just a little unclear as to how this will affect the calendar. We certainly wouldn't want to do anything to delay the legislation we've just been working on.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

No, it would not delay the calendar. It does not request a study. It's simply that, if adopted, this request would be presented to the government by the committee.

We'll go to Ms. Gray and then Madam Zarrillo.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Chair, I was referring to the calendar of the House, not necessarily of the committee, just for clarification. Thank you.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

It shouldn't. No, it would not impact the calendar of the House.

Madame Chabot, did you have your hand up?

Madam Zarrillo, did you?

You have it now. This is your last chance.

5:10 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

All I wanted to say is that the motion says “exploring”. Regardless, the House or the government will make that decision once this gets there, if it does.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Is there any further discussion or debate on the motion put to the committee by Madam Zarrillo? Does everybody have that? If there's no further discussion, I will call a vote on the motion by Madam Zarrillo.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 2)

I just want to advise the witnesses that you're okay to go. I'm sorry; I should have done that a little earlier. I could see you were totally captured by the drama going on in the committee. Again, thank you for coming and providing answers to the committee members as we were doing the clause-by-clause of Bill C-22. It's most appreciated. Thank you.

Do you have your hand up, Madam Zarrillo?

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

I do. I have one more motion, Mr. Chair, that I distributed to the committee on Friday last week.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

You're full of motions. Okay.

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

I am.

This is in relation to the care economy labour shortages study that we began in March of this year. The motion reads:

That, in relation to its study of Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy, the committee make time to finalize the report on the Care Economy-Labour Shortages no later than December 14, 2022; and that the report be tabled in the House of Commons immediately thereafter on the first available sitting day.

Mr. Chair, with the crisis we are seeing right now in the health care system, we have a lot of good testimony I'd like to get into the hands of the House.

Thank you.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Madam Zarrillo. Everybody has the notice of motion. Version two has been finalized, and all committee members have it.

Madame Chabot, you had your hand up.