Human Resources Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2022

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

I have read and can understand the arguments in Ms. Zarrillo's motion. I took part in the major study on the national First Nations housing strategy, the report of which has been submitted to the government. Some measures and recommendations must be implemented.

I feel that we will have the opportunity to ask questions in order to clarify things, either in the motion that has been introduced today, or in the coming testimony about the mandate letter. That is the route I would prefer. The report on that strategy was tabled recently. It seems to me that it would be a good idea to ask the minister all our questions when he appears.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Chabot.

Mr. Ruff, you have the floor.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Madame Chabot actually sort of captured my thought process on this fairly well. The key addition is obviously the Minister of Indigenous Services, and I think if we wait until we get the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion here, we can ask those questions. We'll all be able to ask any of those questions on the indigenous housing situation. If the answer's there, and if he passes the buck to the Minister of Indigenous Services, then I think as a committee we can decide to call that minister forward at a future date.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Ruff.

Being a new member to committee, Madam Zarrillo, do you want to proceed with your amendment?

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

I'm fine to do the unanimous consent withdrawal, and we can discuss it again after we've seen the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You're requesting the unanimous support of the committee to withdraw your amendment.

(Amendment withdrawn)

I see consensus, Madam Zarrillo. Your amendment has been withdrawn.

Seeing no further debate, we will proceed to a vote on Mr. Jeneroux's motion as presented. The committee is familiar with it; I don't think we have to have it repeated. It was clear and there were no amendments, so we will now proceed to a recorded vote on the motion of Mr. Jeneroux.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

Continuing with committee business, Madame Chabot, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to introduce a motion that you have received. It is about a study on seniors. I will read it and then explain the context a little.

The motion reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the impact of COVID-19 on the financial, social, health and overall well-being of seniors; that the committee review existing and announced programs for seniors; that the evidence and documents received by the committee during the second session of the 43rd Parliament regarding this study be considered by the committee during the current session; that the committee make recommendations to improve support for seniors; that the committee hold at least one (1) two-hour meeting on this matter; that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that the committee ask the government to provide a comprehensive response to the report.

We have more new members of the committee than former members like us. Mr. Long, I know that you were here in the last session, but let me remind my colleagues that the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities conducted a study on seniors, including everything described in this motion. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete the study because an election was called, which put an end to the session.

The objective of this motion is not to begin the study again and hear witnesses. It is just to finish what we started, which is to get to the report stage and submit a report to the government. The study was very important. We heard from a number of witnesses and we received a number of briefs. Several groups came to talk about the topic and it was really interesting. It would be a real shame if all that work were simply to disappear.

It would be good if we could have at least one meeting at which the analysts could bring us up to date on what could be in a draft report. Then we could look at that and submit the report to the government.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Chabot.

I'm going to go to Madame Martinez Ferrada, and then Mr. Long, but before that, could the clerk speak to the status of the report, as requested by Madam Chabot? What's the status of the report she was referring to? Could you clarify?

[The Clerk]

As Madame Chabot stated, we did a study last Parliament, and as per the motion at least one two-hour meeting was initially projected to occur prior to the end of the last Parliament, but the committee never had the opportunity to complete that last session. Madame Chabot's motion clearly outlines at least one two-hour meeting on this matter to complete the study, and it will provide the opportunity for the analysts to take into consideration all the material that was received last Parliament and prepare a draft report for the consideration of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Madame Martinez Ferrada, and then Mr. Long.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I was not here when that study was done, but I understand that the matter is very important. I will be very pleased to support my colleague's motion. I would really like to read the briefs and see the work that was done. I feel that it behooves us to appreciate and support the work of the research and analysis services and to conclude the work done in previous Parliaments. If the committee can table a report, it will be to its great credit.

With that said, I would like Ms. Chabot for one clarification. If I understand correctly, we are writing a report, not hearing from witnesses. The idea is to finish the work that was started in the previous Parliament.

Can she tell me whether the motion implies that we could invite witnesses?

I would just like some clarification about the witnesses and the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mr. Long has the floor; then I will go back to you, Madame Chabot, to respond to Madame Martinez Ferrada.

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

Chair, I wanted to reiterate and thank MP Chabot for bringing this motion forward. It was a good study we didn't have the opportunity to finish it off, and I fully support it. I'll echo that it's not to recall witnesses or anything like that; it's simply to finish off the report, which certainly has my support.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Long.

Madame Chabot.

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

I can confirm that the intention is not to recall witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Chabot.

As an informal discussion, this could possibly be scheduled for Monday's meeting in the first....

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

I can't hear anything anymore, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Sorry, Madame Chabot. I'm consulting with the clerk. I wasn't speaking.

Just a moment.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chair, I propose that we take a break for five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We'll have a five-minute suspension, Mr. Long and Madam Chabot.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

With everybody present again, we will resume the meeting. We're on the motion of Madame Chabot.

Madam Kusie, you have the floor.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

We would be in support of this motion to return this study for completion to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madam Kusie.

Seeing no further discussion on the motion of Madame Chabot, I shall go to a vote.

(Motion agreed to: 11 yeas; 0 nays)

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The motion is carried.

There are two items now. I've been informed that the meeting is not being recorded, so we might not want to proceed much further. It's up to the will of the committee.

I have a suggestion. Given Monday, the committee might want to consider having the analyst in, in camera. Providing the analyst is comfortable and able to come and give a briefing during the first hour on Monday, that's an option, but we cannot confirm that without checking on the availability of the analyst.

I see Mr. Ruff, and then we'll go to Madame Chabot.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I reference your point.

Are you talking about the analyst here, in specific reference to Madame Chabot's motion?