Human Resources Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Minister, it's interesting to hear you talk about employment insurance. Today, we were supposed to consider a report on the work in the seasonal industry and the employment insurance program. According to the report, there are a lot of recommendations and things that need to be changed in the system. I hope we'll have the opportunity to come back to it so that it can be adopted. One thing is certain: Given the number of recommendations that have been made regarding employment insurance, there needs to be a real reform and a real modernization of employment insurance. That's what the Bloc Québécois is calling for. We introduced a bill to that effect. I hope we can come back to that report at a future meeting.

My question is about the budget implementation bill, Bill C‑15. Why doesn't that bill provide any mechanism for Quebec to opt out with full compensation?

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

I couldn't hear the last bit. Just one moment.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I hope you'll stop the clock, Mr. Chair.

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

What was the last sentence?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Ms. Larouche, can you repeat your question?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Yes, I'll repeat my question.

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

I understand, Ms. Larouche.

I think the citizens of Quebec are entitled to the same opportunities as the citizens of Canada. The GST credit is a national credit, and it's important for every Canadian to get the same support.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Yes, it's a federal program, but that wasn't what I was talking about when I mentioned the right to opt out with full compensation.

Do you acknowledge that this approach, which is consistent across certain programs that deal with areas under Quebec's jurisdiction, risks creating unnecessary overlap?

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

This government has been very respectful of supporting Quebec's determination of how to provide support to a variety of different citizens. For example, in my own file, which I would know the best, for many direct supports for programming for youth, Quebec is able to have the final say on which programs receive federal funds and how those funds should be used. I've met with Carrefour in Quebec City. They have spoken to me about the many ways in which they use that federal support to support young people, but they also work in full compliance and coordination with the Province of Quebec.

When it comes to tax credits and GST credits, this is something that all citizens receive. We'll continue to make sure there's equity in how that is delivered across the country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Ms. Larouche.

Mr. Reynolds, you have five minutes, please.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for coming here today.

I just want to clarify something. I don't know if you thought I was laughing about the Bill C-15 thing, but I wasn't, actually. Being the new guy here, I don't know bill numbers either. I said to my colleague, “I'm glad I'm not the only one.”

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

Thank you very much for clarifying that. It felt a little personal. There are a lot of bills flying around.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I don't know the bill numbers either.

This government is standing in the House every week talking about nation-building projects and the need for more skilled trades workers. One of the biggest issues we have in this country with skilled trades recruitment is retention. For many years, the federal government offered the apprenticeship completion grant, which paid $2,000 per apprentice upon completion of their program. The federal government also offered the apprenticeship incentive grant. This grant also paid a total of $2,000 per apprentice, which was given throughout the program. Additionally, there was the apprenticeship incentive grant for women, which paid a total of $6,000 for women in the trades. These grants helped dramatically with retention. They actually helped me when I was going through my apprenticeship 18 years ago.

Can you explain why, with all the discussion around these nation-building projects and trades worker shortages, the Liberal government decided to cancel these programs in March 2025 and did not bring any of these incentives back in budget 2025?

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Reynolds, for representing skilled labour in Parliament. It's great to have a tradesperson. There might be others, but you've certainly been very vocal about your experience, and that's helpful. My son is a skilled tradesperson as well.

I'm very grateful that you were able to avail yourself of the apprenticeship grant. Our data has shown that not many people are actually utilizing the grant. It's not driving completion in the way that it was designed.

We have every intention of bringing back financial supports and grants to apprentices. I agree with you that money may be part of the barrier.

We're working with the CBTU and other skilled trades organizations to understand how to deliver that in a way that's really going to break through. In the experience of my sample size of one, which is up close and personal, that journey can be really fragile for individuals when they're experiencing, for example, layoffs and seasonal work.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I agree. It can be tough. I went through it myself.

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

We will be coming back with how that's modelled, based on the advice of apprentices and skilled trades workers.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Another program that was offered by the federal government over the last number of years was the apprenticeship support program. This program would pay employers that hired a brand new first-year apprentice up to $10,000 for a newcomer or someone from an under-represented group, specifically women, or $5,000 for anyone else. With all the virtue signalling around needing more trades, specifically women in the trades, why has the Liberal government made it harder?

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

We are actually relaunching that support for employers in April of this year.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

The issues around apprentice retention are always with lower-level apprentices, typically first- and second-year. That's because they aren't paid a lot. The grants help them significantly to make ends meet. As I said, they helped me a lot.

Can you explain why, when the government is standing up and praising the trades, apprentices can expect less from this federal government than they did from previous governments...as I expected so many years ago?

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

Again, the data we have on the apprenticeship grant shows that it really wasn't getting into the hands of apprentices or finished Red Seal tradespeople. We are working with Red Seal trade organizations and apprentices to better understand how we can support people immediately.

I personally think that part of the challenge with the apprenticeship grants was the delayed nature of them. The reality is that sometimes when people are laid off, they need the money right away, not after a particular block of study. We're looking at all options right now to do exactly what you're suggesting—that is, have the right support in place to help people get through first and second year and all the way to Red Seal.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Another issue that comes up, and I've experienced it myself, is the delay in EI for apprenticeship. Usually you have to observe the two-week waiting period when going to school. Has that issue been addressed in this budget?

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

That issue is being addressed right now through the EI temporary reforms that were put into place to deal with the unjust tariffs. They're not just for tariff-related employment loss; they're for everybody. There's no waiting period at all for anyone who's claiming EI. Of course, we're carefully monitoring the situation to see if we need to extend those measures.

Obviously, we've had really positive feedback from workers, including tradespeople, about these changes. You're right that waiting when you're laid off is very difficult.

[Colin Reynolds, Conservative, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Have these been permanently implemented, or is this just related to the tariff relief?

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

These have been temporary changes that relate to tariffs, and we're examining what to do in the next period of time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. You were well over five minutes, but that was a very valid question that I wanted the minister to answer, as it targets people we should be targeting.

Mr. Joseph, you have the floor for five minutes.