Evidence of meeting #16 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 question.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
President and Business Agent, Halifax Longshoremen's Association
—but the problem we see is that the profits the shipping lines and the terminal operators are making since COVID are record profits, and they don't seem to want to bring us with them.
There's a disconnect between the shipping lines and the terminal operators and their bottom line, and what they're willing to pay the hard-working men and women of the longshoring industry.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK
Thank you.
For CFIB, would you agree with the statement that the cost of living crisis is increasing the pressure on working folks?
Vice-President, National Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
I'm not sure the living crisis was the reason why the Port of Montreal saw three strikes in a few years. I don't think that's the reason we saw several strikes at B.C. ports. I don't believe that it was this reason that we saw the St. Lawrence Seaway paralyzed.
I believe that there's currently a momentum for unions to strike, because they believe they have the upper hand, and they want to use it to maximize the benefits to their members.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, with my remaining time here, I would like to quickly move a motion. I move:
That the committee invite the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and the Minister of Jobs and Families, for no less than one hour each, separately, to testify in relation to the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2025-2026 before the December adjournment.
This is a very standard procedure among other committees. I am sure that we could pass this quite quickly.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I've been advised that the motion is in order.
Is there discussion on the motion of Ms. Falk?
I'll just ask the witnesses to bear with us. This is within the member's right to do.
Do you have a question, Ms. Desrochers?
Liberal
Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC
I'm just a little confused by this, because both of these ministers have been invited and are scheduled to testify in this committee already. I don't know if the member is asking to add the issue of the supplementary estimates to their testimony or suggesting that they come back one more time. I'd like some clarification.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK
Absolutely, it is a long-standing practice in each committee to have the ministers responsible for departments come to their respective committees and have dedicated time specifically for the supplementary estimates (B). Absolutely, it's additional on top of what they're coming for already, given that those are specific studies or specific mandates.
Again, this is something that almost every committee does as a standard practice, even within this committee, as the chair would know.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Is there any further discussion on the motion put forward by Ms. Falk?
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
I'm sorry. I'm helping out today. I just wanted to know.... I understand that our member of Parliament is reflecting on this. I'm just curious to know.
I was under the impression that we were here to study a certain motion and you're introducing a motion. Was that discussed among all parties? Did you have an agreement?
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK
It was on notice. This is, again, standard practice, specifically for sure for HUMA, as the chair would know, being a long-standing member with me. This is just what committees do.
We're bound by a timeline in the House as well. We have to report that back before the House rises, before Christmas, so again, I thought this would be something easy that we could just pass, because it's what this committee has done.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
Again, the motion is in order.
We have Mr. Seeback, Ms. Fancy and then Ms. Desrochers.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Chair, we didn't think that this would be an issue, and we're now past time. If this isn't going to be passed or if we're going to continue speaking, we should probably let the witnesses go.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
If it's the will of committee members....
Mr. Seeback, do you have the floor, or are you finished? I have two others who would like to speak.
We have Ms. Fancy on the motion by Ms. Falk.
Liberal
Jessica Fancy-Landry Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Thank you for this motion.
As we know, the ministers are already scheduled to be here. The only thing I would have is an amendment to take out “before the December”, as it can impede our already scheduled calendar of events.
Liberal
Jessica Fancy-Landry Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
Yes, I'd like to amend the motion by removing “before the December”.
Liberal
Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC
I'd like to support my colleague and just say that we agreed to a calendar a few weeks ago, but every week we add a new thing that pushes us further away from that calendar. We've been very flexible in accommodating these, but I just want to say that.
I'd like to add a subamendment to strike out the “no less than” so that it's “one hour each” and to remove the word “separately” so that we can have the option of combining, if possible.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Madam Desrochers, we have to deal with the amendment because you can only subamend the amendment that was made by Ms. Fancy.
Liberal
Jessica Fancy-Landry Liberal South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
May I roll that into one then, adding the striking out of “no less than” and the striking out—