Human Resources Committee on Dec. 11th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Committee members, the committee is back in session.

Currently on the floor we have a motion by Ms. Zarrillo.

Ms. Zarrillo has her hand up.

Ms. Zarrillo, you have the floor.

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

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

I would like to just call the vote.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Ms. Zarrillo.

Ms. Zarrillo has called for a vote on the motion that is currently on the floor. The motion was not amended.

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

Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

There's been a vote called.

Ms. Zarrillo, the clerk has advised me that Mr. Long has the right to speak on the motion.

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

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to state that obviously we understand MP Zarrillo's motion. We understand the passion behind it. Also, just for the record, these benefits do take time. There's a lot of consultation with provinces, which has not happened yet. It's a major undertaking.

I would say there's nobody who doesn't want to see this benefit rolled out. I think there's also legitimate concern that it be rolled out correctly and that we not leave people behind. The concern is just that pegging it to the first quarter, I think, risks our not doing it completely right.

I can certainly speak to my province of New Brunswick. These conversations and negotiations are very challenging, Chair. I respectfully ask MP Zarrillo to consider that.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mr. Coteau, go ahead.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

I have a quick question for the clerk, just for clarity.

Even if a motion like this is passed, it doesn't compel government to do anything. I'm assuming that's right. I mean, a committee can't compel government to do things.

It's a legitimate question. If this passes, what happens?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The motion gets delivered to the floor of the House of Commons.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

That's it.

[An hon. member]

I think we're ready for a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay, thank you.

I'm going to go to a recorded vote, as requested, on the motion from Ms. Zarrillo. Is everybody clear?

This appears to be the case.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

The motion of Ms. Zarrillo is approved unanimously.

Your time has expired.

We'll now to to Mrs. Gray, for five minutes to the ministers.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the ministers for being here today.

My questions are for Minister Boissonnault.

Looking forward to 2024, is it estimated that Canada's unemployment will be going up or down?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

That is information that we actually look at in the rear-view mirror. However, as we can take a look at the most recent numbers—to answer your question directly—since September, we have numbers that have gone down from 780,200, to the most recent numbers in November of 632,000. We're waiting for the Q3 numbers, which will give us a sense of labour force development.

I'm not going to speculate on employment going up or down, but the labour force is strong, which is showing that unemployment is trending downward.

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

Minister, the fall economic statement projects that unemployment is expected to rise to 6.5% by next spring. That is right in the fall economic statement.

Based on that, do you have a plan to deal with the projected unemployment increase that was in your fall economic statement?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

The unemployment system is there to catch people when they need supports, whether it's through being laid off from work or whether it's for benefits for training. The system is robust and it's ready to handle any downturn in the economy.

The current data we are seeing, though, is trending in the opposite way.

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

My question, Minister, is whether you have a plan on how to deal with this unemployment that is projected from your fall economic statement. Do you believe that food bank usage will be increasing, based on the fact that unemployment is expected to increase next year based on your own fall economic statement?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'm not going to speculate on food bank use. I do understand that food bank use is on the rise. That is certainly a question I would have you direct to my colleague, Minister Sudds.

When it comes to having a plan, absolutely, the employment system is there to support so many people—

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

So you have a plan, Minister. Would you be able to table that plan for this committee?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

The plan is included in negotiations that we have with labour market training agreements with 13 provinces and territories. Those conversations will happen in the new year.

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

Great. Minister, you just said that you have a plan to deal with unemployment, so could you table that plan for this committee?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'm happy to table what we are working on with the provinces when that passes through governmental channels.

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

Thank you, Minister.

After the large projected spike in unemployment next year, how long will it take for unemployment to get back to current levels—as projected?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Paul, do we have any information on—

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

Minister, we can bring the officials back at another time. I'm addressing you.