I just would challenge you on that greatly, because there's a lack of transparency or correspondence. This program does help a ton of small businesses, and it is small business week, so there's a big shout-out to them, but there is a massive lack of communication, and these businesses are waiting until the last minute, scrambling because they haven't had any communication from your ministry. That's not on us as MPs, Minister, so for you to insinuate that it is today is very unfair.

Noon

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

No, what I was talking about, Michelle, was the choice and the selection, and that's what I mean. There isn't another program that says, “MPs, because you know your constituencies best, because you know the local organizations that may not be—”

Noon

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Yes, 100%, but it's—

Noon

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

—because you know all that best, we're going to prioritize....” It's because, with all due respect, Service Canada has no idea what's going on in your riding. Service Canada does not know what's going on, but you do.

Noon

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

Then why is it only 10% of the priority?

Noon

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

Listen, that is something that we will continue to work on, but what I'm saying is—and we know this as MPs—that there is no other program that gives the opportunities that this program does for MPs to connect with their local organizations and to suggest which organizations should benefit—

Noon

Conservative

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON

But 90% of that is not local; it's only 10%.

Noon

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

Are you saying that the organizations that are prioritized in Peterborough—Kawartha are not organizations that you have put there, that you have suggested? Is that what you're saying?

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Miss Ferreri.

We'll go to Mr. Morrice to conclude.

Noon

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, colleagues.

Minister Ien, it's wonderful to see you here. I wanted to follow up on our conversation from this past summer.

Noon

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

We've had several. We've been in touch a lot, Mike.

Noon

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

I appreciate the conversations we've had, particularly as a result of the letter we worked on with both the Bloc and NDP to dig in to some of what we've heard throughout this conversation today.

First of all, I appreciate, as I've heard from you several times already, your advocacy in the fall economic statement to see the numbers. The program right now is $278 million. I would continue to join in the advocacy to say that we see significant funding elsewhere and would like to see the funding increased. I recognize you're in the midst of that advocacy already, so I'd like to focus my question more on the 70,000 jobs, because behind that number are—in my community, at least—many employers who received only eight weeks of support as opposed to 16 weeks.

While there were 70,000 jobs, there's a significant cut in the number of weeks per job. It's also a minium wage program still, so often it's the lowest-wage role for that employer, and it's also communicated very late, so a lot of these employers are having a difficult time learning in mid-April about how to acquire resources.

I'll give you an example. Red Raccoon Bike Rescue in my community are a bunch of volunteers who fix bikes. They received two jobs at eight weeks each, and they heard about it towards the end of April. We were able to work with Service Canada in this case, and with your team, to have the advocacy to say actually we'd prefer only one job at 16 weeks over the two jobs at eight weeks, given how small this organization is.

In addition to your advocacy to see funding increased, can you speak about what we can be doing collectively to see the wages increased, to see the communication moved up for employers to plan for the roles, and to see 16-week roles returned to more often?

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

Thanks so much, Mike, and for your incredible advocacy as well. We've been on the line a lot.

With regard to the eight weeks, I will say that this is a summer program. That's what it is. Obviously there are always things to be considered, but that's what it is, because it's meant for a certain cohort. That's what I mean about the different cohorts and the different programs. This one is meant for high school kids.

With regard to employers and late notice, it was one of the things that we heard from MPs, and we changed. The call for proposals, the call for employers, starts in November. It starts in a month and will go until January. We heard that things happen too late and that people need to know earlier, so November is now the time. In a month from now, that will be happening.

12:05 p.m.

Green

Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON

I think the notification to the employer, though, remains at April 19 or so this year, so I'd encourage anything that can be done there. I know that Service Canada is working hard.

Anything that could be done to move the entire window earlier and for applications to open earlier would be good. If notifications could be made in February or March so that employers would be ready to act and a post-secondary student, for example, who would like to start on May 1 could.... If we could see more of those opportunities made available with more notice....

Certainly I can speak for employers in Kitchener. I know you've received some letters from them. They are very keen to have that extra notice period. There could even be a challenge to Canada summer jobs to pay a living wage. Maybe the Government of Canada could say, “We'd encourage you to ensure that every role in your organization is paid a living wage and we're going to help make sure that you can do that.” On behalf of employers in Kitchener Centre, I strongly encourage you to have that advocacy included, along with a return to pandemic funding levels.

Thank you.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Madam Minister, do you have a response?

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON

Thank you, Mike.

I just want to thank Mike and, frankly, thank everybody. It isn't often that you come into a room like this and find people are not just excited but are advocating so hard for a program that obviously is not perfect but is working so well for young people across this country. I'm just honoured to be with you here today, and I thank you.

There is much to consider. There's information that we need to get back to you, obviously, but I will tell you that it feels very much as I leave here, Mr. Chair, that we're on the right path. It's not a perfect path, but we're on a path that serves young people well, so thank you for the time.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Minister. You're right. There were some very valid points raised here that would improve the delivery in the ridings. We appreciate your taking the time to listen to them.

The committee will suspend for two minutes, let's say, and then we'll go back into the final hour with the department officials.

Thank you again, Minister.

I forgot to welcome Madam Vecchio, who is in the committee—

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

That's unbelievable—

12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Ms. Hepfner is leaving as well.

It was good having you here, and having you, Minister. You can see that it's a program that members of Parliament are quite in tune with.

We'll suspend for two minutes.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Committee members, could we resume, please? We may be interrupted, so if we could have officials ready, we'll be going directly to the questioning round.

The committee is back in session with the officials from the ministry. We'll begin with the first six-minute round. I understand that Mr. Aitchison is going to lead.

There are no opening statements and the officials have been introduced, so we'll begin the first round of questioning with Mr. Aitchison for six minutes, please.

October 16th, 2023 / 12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to take this time to move a motion that we have on notice. I'll read it, if you don't mind: I move:

That the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities recognizes Canada is in a housing crisis, and that this motion be reported to the House.

I'd like to move that motion.