Human Resources Committee on May 30th, 2023

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

I'm delighted that you asked this question on a day when I have seconded amendments to the Atlantic Accord. We will now be including renewables within the Atlantic Accord.

We have a strong jurisdictional agreement with provincial governments in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador that have provided the foundation for Canada's offshore oil and gas, and we've enjoyed great success on that. However, things have evolved; times have evolved and energy has evolved, and now this same foundation that we have that was negotiated with the provinces will now be used to springboard and unleash incredible investments in green hydrogen and renewables.

I am incredibly excited. You would think that Mr. Morrice and I had planted the question. We did not. We just introduced amendments this morning. I could not be more thrilled. This is an entirely new chapter that is based on the strong foundation, because you're talking about different jurisdictions here.

This is an amazing day for renewables in my province and in Nova Scotia, and I think for Canada. We're very windy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Obviously, you're passionate on that particular file.

Committee members, we still have to conclude. I need to carry the votes. The ministers can go.

I need to do the votes on the five items that we have.

Shall vote 1 under Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization, less the amount of $2,973,010.25 granted in interim supply, carry?

Shall vote 1 under Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, less the amount of $3,053,290.92 granted in interim supply, carry?

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

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

We're in the middle of a vote. Could we have some order in the room?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I'm sorry. I'm not getting the translation.

Could people be quiet? We're not getting translation.

How are we doing now?

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

That's not what I said, Mr. Chair. I have access to interpretation. I said we were voting, but we can't hear because of the noise in the room.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I'm not getting interpretation.

Can we try again? Is there interpretation?

Shall we begin with the second one? Shall vote 1 under Canadian Centre for Occupational Health—

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. Can we restart? Because there was so much ruckus going on, I think maybe people didn't know what was going on. Do you mind if we start from the top?

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

No, not at all.

Just so we're clear, is the interpretation fine, Madam Chabot?

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

Mr. Chair, I've never had an issue with interpretation. The problem is that there was too much talking in the room. There's no problem with the interpretation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We shall begin again, now that it's quiet.

CANADIAN ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$11,892,041

Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$8,500,000

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

CANADIAN CENTRE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$5,234,213

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$1,273,326,965

Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$9,892,285,081

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

Shall I report the main estimates to the House less the amount voted in interim supply?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We shall report the main estimates to the House at the next opportunity, which I understand is tomorrow morning.

We will now suspend the first hour while we transition to in camera to return to consideration of version 1 of the housing report. We'll suspend for five minutes for people to have a health break.

[Proceedings continue in camera]