Evidence of meeting #15 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC
From what I understand, you're building an economy based on oil.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Blanchette‑Joncas.
Mr. Genuis, you have five minutes.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Madam Secretary, my colleague repeatedly put this question to you: Does the government regard a one-year mandatory minimum sentence for child sexual abuse materials as cruel and unusual punishment? You didn't provide a response, so, finally, could the committee put the question to you, and could you answer it, please?
Liberal
Leslie Church Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
I think we've covered this off. This is not within the secretary of state's purview. If the committee wishes to call the Minister of Justice in to speak to mandatory minimums, it has the full capacity to do so.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Ms. Church.
It's the minister's prerogative to answer the questions as she sees them coming. You're appearing here under government mandates, Madam Secretary.
Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Chair.
On the same point of order, the committee is, I understand, putting the question to the minister.
Minister, could you please respond to the question?
Liberal
Liberal
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Yes, they can, Chair. The clerk can clarify for you. If a witness does not respond to a question, it is then the responsibility of the committee to put the question, and the minister is obliged to answer it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Mr. Genuis, just to be clear, you cannot compel a minister to answer a question.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
She is a secretary of state, but she is a member of the Privy Council. You cannot compel her to answer a question. You can pose the question in your own context, Mr. Genuis.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Chair, I think we'll come back to this matter, but I'll move on—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
—to a different matter for the time being.
Madam Secretary, could you clarify whether student grants next year will be at $4,200, or will they drop down to $3,000?
Liberal
Anna Gainey Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC
That's a good question.
Go ahead, Deputy Thompson.
Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
The current offering—
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Minister, do you not know the answer?
Liberal
Anna Gainey Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount, QC
I want to make sure you get the right answer. I just want to be sure. Thank you.
Conservative
Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
I was just going to note that the Canada student grants are currently at 40% above the prepandemic levels, and the student loans are also above the prepandemic levels. There has been no decision taken on the resource profile for the following year at this point in time.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Essentially, the answer to my question is that the government hasn't decided yet.
The minister or whoever knows may answer. The government hasn't decided yet whether they're going to extend that or change it.
Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
There is no decision—that's correct—on the future funding levels for that program at this point.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
This is, of course, a point of great frustration for students, the lack of certainty around that evident in the budget.
Madam Secretary, the budget proposes to eliminate student grants for students attending private for-profit institutions. Could you give me examples of what kinds of institutions you're targeting with this change? This is for the secretary of state.
Liberal