Human Resources Committee on Nov. 25th, 2025

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Absolutely. I was very proud to stand with the Prime Minister at the announcement of the first tranche of major projects that have been selected for review just a few months ago. In fact, the Canadian Building Trades Unions was there in full force standing with us. I think it was an indication of the value that building trades see in the investment in major projects. Of course, we will need thousands and thousands of skilled trades workers to be able to build these projects, not just the major projects but the housing that's planned—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Minister.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

—and that's already under way in many communities across the country. It's going to create great opportunities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Minister. We're well over.

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, as well as the deputy ministers, for being here with us today.

I have many questions. We talked about several subjects often connected to areas under provincial jurisdiction.

For my part, I am going to talk about areas under federal jurisdiction. The first subject is a priority for the Bloc Québécois. During the previous Parliament, Louise Chabot, former representative of the Thérèse—De Blainville riding, tabled a bill on employment insurance. The Bloc Québécois will obviously come back to it and table a reform bill. The government has been saying it wants to carry out this reform since 2015.

Minister, when the Bloc Québécois tables its bill, will you vote in favour of the reform your government has been wanting to make since 2015?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Thank you for the question.

It’s premature for me to say whether I am in favour of a bill I’ve not yet read.

I think it's important that I read the bill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

I knew that; I kind of guessed.

The Bloc Québécois’s bill was tabled in November 2024. It would therefore be almost the same thing now. It would solve various stakeholder issues. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise when the bill is tabled again.

Since Mr. Axworthy led reforms in 1996, there have been consultations. Since 2015, you’ve certainly held consultations as well. There are therefore no surprises.

This bill responds to requests from various groups. I’m thinking specifically about the black hole. It’s very important to solve it for all Canadians, particularly workers in seasonal industries.

Minister, as you know, during a vote, members can send a bill to a parliamentary committee for review and amendment. In any case, since the subject of the bill is employment insurance, it will need approval from the government side.

Would you be ready to support sending this bill to the parliamentary committee for review?

Earlier, you said to one of my colleagues that you could take it under your wing, to make sure it passes and is implemented quickly.

I'd like an answer along those lines, with a yes or a no from you.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Again, I would not offer resounding support of a bill I haven't seen yet. I think it's important that we work together, though. If you're interested in working with my office, we can build on some of the things that we've already done to transform EI. Maybe they're in the bill you're talking about—for example, extra weeks for long-tenured workers.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

I must interrupt you, Minister. I have a lot of questions to ask you.

When a bill is tabled in the House of Commons, the first vote is a vote in principle. Given that the government has been promising employment insurance reform for 10 years, I imagine it would agree to send the bill to parliamentary committee.

The principle of the bill is to reform employment insurance. It is therefore not a matter of having read the bill or not. Even if you were not the minister responsible for employment insurance over the last 10 years, this is a governmental commitment; it’s the government’s theoretical will.

I would like a positive response from you. As it is a matter of principle, I would like you to tell me that the government will go ahead at first reading, because reform is needed.

What I understand is that you’re telling unions, employees and employers who want to see employment insurance reform that your government is not willing to send the bill to the parliamentary committee—a bill that would do the government’s work. MPs could debate and amend it with the goal of moving reform forward. It’s a long-awaited change, and far from becoming a reality.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

No, I haven't said that we wouldn't or would. What I've said is that it would be irresponsible for any government to agree in principle to sending a bill forward until it's seen that bill. I also have been a minister for 10 years, and I can tell you that there can be all kinds of things in bills that may or may not be feasible. We look forward to seeing your bill, and hopefully we can support it. There is a greater likelihood of that if we work together.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Yes, I hope so too.

I would indeed like the government to introduce a bill to that effect.

Do you in fact intend to table a plan for reform? I ask this because the Prime Minister's mandate letter is very broad. We don't know exactly where the government is headed.

I listened to your opening remarks. Naturally, I go through just about everything the government is doing, but there is no mention of employment insurance. You talk about certain measures, but they are always provisional measures that end after a certain period of time. I'm thinking in particular of the temporary measures that end because of arbitrary dates. That puts people in a difficult situation.

Do you in fact have a plan in mind to reform employment insurance? You're the one who can answer, because that's a commitment you've made and I imagine you trust yourself.

Do you plan to table employment insurance reform in the next four years as the Minister of Jobs and Families?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

We've actually not waited to change a number of measures that are really helping workers right now. For example—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Excuse me, Minister.

I'm talking about the promise you made in 2015. It was repeated in your party's various election platforms, which stated that a reform would be implemented.

For 10 years, people have been told that this reform would be implemented.

In the next four years, do you, as minister, intend to keep the promise your government has been making to Quebeckers and Canadians for the past 10 years?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

What I'm telling you is that we didn't wait for legislation to change a number of measures that have been advocated for a very long time, including, for example—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

No, that's not what people want. They want reform.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Chair, if I could just finish my statement....

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Actually, Minister, you're telling me that the answer is no. I think that debate is over on this topic.

Let's move on to another question, this time about Canada Post. I'm also interested in this topic because it affects workers. The government says it will create jobs but, at the end of the day, it is making huge cuts.

In June, $253 million in losses were recorded. At the same time, Purolator was announcing discounts of 65% on its services. We know that Canada Post owns 91% of the shares in Purolator.

I know that your government has been under pressure from a number of political parties to implement legislation.

Since my time is up, I'll come back to this topic later, Minister.

Thank you Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you Mrs. Gill.

Ms. Goodridge, you have five minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Minister, for being here today.

Since 2017, the price of baby formula has risen 84% in Canada according to StatsCan, and yet, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it has risen by only 42.9%. Why is the inflation on this product double in Canada? Does that concern you?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

It does concern me when a product like baby formula, which is not easily replaceable, is that expensive. We've had a number of exchanges in the House, obviously. There are things that the government can control. There are things that the government cannot.

One thing we can control, though, is increasing available money for individuals who are—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Has this been—

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

—needing to purchase baby formula.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Has this been discussed at cabinet?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

In fact, Health Canada has actually made some regulatory changes to make it easier to get baby formula into this country. I would encourage you to ask the minister—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I'm well aware. I actually advocated for that when we were dealing with the formula shortage before.

What I have seen from this government, and from the last government for the last 10 years, is no action and no real care. We are in a crisis. Parents are paying $50 for a container of baby formula. In 2020, that exact same container of baby formula cost $29. The amount your government is providing to families has not gone up by that percentage so—