I call to order meeting number 50 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. Therefore, members are attending in person and remotely using the Zoom application. To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. For those participating virtually, please use the “raise hand” function. Before speaking, click on the microphone icon to activate your own mike. When you are done speaking, please return to mute. For those in the room, the mike will be monitored by the proceedings and verification officer. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order.
You may speak in the official language of your choice, and interpretation services are available for this meeting. For those participating by video conference, you have the choice of floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances—and it would be exceptional—I will not recognize those appearing virtually unless they have a House of Commons-approved headset to participate in the meeting. They could participate in the voting, of course. I would like to also remind members that screenshots are not permitted.
Should there be any difficulty with the interpretation or translation during the meeting, please get my attention, and we'll suspend while it's being rectified. I would also like to remind members and witnesses to speak slowly, as we do have sign language interpretation for this meeting. They would appreciate it if you could speak slowly.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, October 18, 2022, the committee will resume its consideration of Bill C-22, Canada disability benefit act.
Before we continue clause-by-clause consideration, as the name indicates, this is an examination of all the clauses in the order in which they appear in the bill. I will call each clause successively, and each clause is subject to debate and a vote.
If there is an amendment to the clause in question, I will recognize the member proposing it, who may explain it. The amendment will then be open for debate. When no further members wish to participate, the amendment will be voted on. Amendments will be considered in the order in which they appear in the bill or in the package that each member received from the clerk. Members should note that amendments must be submitted in writing to the clerk of the committee.
As chair, I will go slowly to allow members to participate fully in the proceedings.
Amendments have been given an alphanumeric number in the top right corner to indicate which party submitted them. There is no need for a seconder to move an amendment. Once moved, you will need unanimous consent to withdraw it.
During debate on the amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. These subamendments must be submitted in writing. They do not require the approval of the mover of the amendment. Only one subamendment may be considered at a time, and that subamendment cannot be amended. When a subamendment is moved to an amendment, it is voted on first. Then another subamendment may be moved, or the committee may consider the main amendment and vote on it.
Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will vote on the title and the bill itself. An order to reprint the bill may be required if amendments are adopted, so that the House has a proper copy for use at report stage. Finally, the committee will have to order the chair to report the bill to the House. That report contains only the text of any adopted amendments as well as an indication of any deleted clauses.
I would like to welcome back the Department of Employment and Social Development.
I would ask both witnesses to introduce themselves to the committee.
