Human Resources Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Desrochers.

Madame Larouche, go ahead on the amendment.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Again, I think this is an interesting topic. I'll see how it goes. I think we'll be able to vote on the motion in the next few minutes.

Ms. Desrochers, I think that conducting this study, as with the study on the Cúram software, is a good use of public funds. If I were a senior and I heard you say that we need to speed up the process regarding the Cúram software, since we need to make good use of public funds, I think I'd be a bit angry.

As we know, costs have increased by 277% since last June. For that reason, I think that conducting a study is a good use of public funds. That's also true for the study that will look at Build Canada Homes.

I'll see what happens after. I'll let my colleagues debate the motion, but we'll be able to vote in the next few minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Mr. Oliphant, go ahead on the amendment.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

On the amendment, I want to speak very strongly in favour of a government report, and that's as a parliamentarian, because if this is an important study, which I believe it is, and if you're going to take that many weeks to do it, you will necessarily, I am sure, come up with recommendations, and the executive branch of government should have to respond.

This is actually the way Parliament and the executive branch should work, so if you really believe this study is important and you think the housing crisis demands parliamentary inquiry as well as government engagement, you will ask for a response. That requires the government to take this parliamentary report seriously, so as a matter of course, parliamentary committees should automatically put it in.

Equally, as Mr. Genuis said, it could be added later, but you can shape your report knowing the government will have to respond. It gives you direction on how to do that, so that becomes important. As well, the committee could remove it later if you decide you don't have any recommendations, but I really hope, as a Canadian, that this committee will have recommendations.

I strongly support the amendment that we require the government to have a report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, but as it is currently structured before the committee, the amendment has two parts. If Madame Desrochers were to ask for unanimous consent to remove the part on the number of meetings, that would be an option, and then the committee would be voting on the amendment, which simply references what you articulated, Mr. Oliphant.

Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's 9:13 and the minister is here, so I suggest we have two options. One is that if there is unanimous agreement to proceed with the six meetings and the reference to Standing Order 109 and adopt the motion right now, we can do that, but if there isn't, I suggest we proceed to hearing from the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I agree, Mr. Genuis; it was articulated well.

Do we have agreement on the amendment with the number of meeting dates, which is also adding a reference to the report?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Do we have the same consensus on the motion as amended?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

With that, as we are in public, at this time we will move to the second hour of the committee's agenda.

I would like welcome Minister Patti Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families. Also with us this morning, from the Department of Employment and Social Development, we have Paul Thompson, deputy minister; Robert Wright, deputy minister of labour and associate deputy minister of employment and social development; and Cliff Groen, associate deputy minister of employment and social development and chief operating officer for Service Canada.

Welcome, Minister. You have the floor for up to five minutes for an opening statement, if you choose to do so.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

It's a joy to be with you here on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe first nation. You've made an introduction of the deputies who serve the vast department of ESDC, and I'm really grateful to have their presence here.

Thank you very much, gentlemen.

Listen, I know this committee has been studying the work that the government is doing to make everyday life affordable and to make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of Canadians. The purpose of my visit today is to talk about budget 2025, which delivers generational investments to build Canada strong, protect our communities and our way of life, and empower Canadians by making life more affordable.

In the face of uncertainty, there are many things we cannot control, but the measures we have in the budget aren't just numbers for the families; they are lifelines in a time of great uncertainty. They reflect a simple truth: Every family deserves stability, dignity and the chance to thrive.

High-quality child care shouldn't cost a fortune. That's why we created the Canada-wide early learning and child care system.

Today, nearly one million families are benefiting from more affordable, high-quality early learning and child care, which saves families thousands of dollars every year. I'm pleased to say that all provinces now have agreements that have been extended across Canada beyond March 31, 2026. Across the country, parents spontaneously come to me and talk about how affordable child care has changed their lives. When affordability and the cost of living are top of mind, child care is one of those costs that families have seen go down, with families saving up to $16,200 annually.

For women, access to affordable child care has meant directly supporting their labour force participation by reducing barriers to going to work or school and strengthening families' economic security, while supporting productivity and growth. In fact, there are 74,000 more mothers aged 25 to 54 of young children in the labour force since 2019.

We've seen this in Quebec for years. When child care is more affordable, more women work, families are more secure and the economy grows. Now we're seeing those benefits expand across the country because of continued investments by the federal government and provinces and territories into building a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. It's true collaboration across the federation, because it's not just an affordability measure; it's about boosting productivity and our economy.

The kinds of stories we're hearing across the country—and I'm sure you've heard them in your riding—echo the story of Kendra from Carlyle, Saskatchewan, who said that the $10 a day child care program has allowed her family to send both kids to day care and enabled them to grow their small business within their community. Without this program, she said, it wouldn't have been financially feasible for them to take this leap. That's what affordability means: social infrastructure that supports parents, strengthens supports for families and opens the door for the next generation.

We've talked a lot about food and food insecurity this Parliament, and we all agree that children should never be hungry at school. That's why budget 2025, upon the recommendation of many organizations, including Food Banks Canada, makes the national school food program permanent. When children have nutritious meals, they learn better, and when parents know that their kids are fed, it reduces stress at home.

This annual investment of $216 million will help up to 400,000 children a year take part in school food programs. For a participating family with two children in school, that can mean annual savings of $800.

The experts have said that this measure is monumental. Parents have told me that it's the difference between sending their kids to school worried and sending them with confidence, knowing that they have the necessary tools to thrive. It's not just low-income parents. Many parents send their kids to school, and sometimes lunches are forgotten. That day can be a very hungry day for a kid who needs fuel for learning.

We're going further, though, with the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. The government is increasing the former GST credit by 25% for five years, starting in July 2026. This will help Canadians manage the rising cost of everyday essentials.

To support families in immediate need, we're providing $20 million to the local food infrastructure fund, helping food banks and community organizations all across this country deliver more nutritious food. To tackle the root causes of food insecurity, we're developing a national food security strategy that will strengthen domestic food production, support producers and improve access to affordable, nutritious food across the country—again, all actions recommended by food banks.

I have quite a bit more.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We're at five minutes.

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

I will stop there, then, Mr. Chair. I would love to talk today about the work we're doing to support apprenticeships as well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Madam Minister, you can do that during the question and answer rounds.

We will now go to the first round of questions.

Mr. Genuis, you have six minutes.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here.

Minister, the budget said the following, which, as you know, we've raised a lot of concern about:

Budget 2025 announces the government’s intention to propose legislative and regulatory amendments to address integrity issues related to private educational institutions by generally limiting access to the Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students to students attending public educational institutions and not-for-profit private institutions within Canada.

As I have pointed out, this proposal in the budget would eliminate funding for students who are pursuing essential vocational training, which is available at only private institutions, as it happens. I want to note that the budget implementation act, which we're discussing today, does not implement the provisions that were foreshadowed in the budget with respect to this. It makes some changes, but they are very different from what is in the budget.

Is the government still committed to the policy as articulated in the budget, or has the government decided to change course on this?

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

The government is committed to making sure that when young people purchase education, that education is accredited and is valuable in terms of their productivity and their work experience. This—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I am going to jump in to insist on a specific answer to a very simple question. Is the government committed to the budget provisions as specifically laid out on page 217 of the budget and as I just read? Is that still the government's policy?

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

The government's policy is that we will ensure that the way in which we invest through Canada's student supports means that quality education is the outcome.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Minister, you're a minister of the Crown. It doesn't seem to me that it would be that difficult to say whether you stand behind the budget or you don't stand behind the budget.

Do you stand behind the specific provisions on page 217 of the budget, as I just read out? Do you stand behind those provisions?

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

As I said, the focus of the government is to deliver supports to students so that the expenses they incur for education are actually resulting in quality education that results in labour attachment.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Right. That's a great objective.

Do you agree with and stand behind the policy as laid out in the budget on page 217?

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

I will repeat that the focus of the government is to make sure that when students utilize Canada's student learning supports, it will result in education that is valuable to them. We have seen an increase in institutions that—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Minister, it's incredible to me that you can't give a simple answer to the question about whether the government still stands behind the policy.

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

This is the simple answer, sir.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

The simple question is this: Does the government maintain and continue to have as its policy what is articulated on page 217 of the budget? It's just yes or no. Do you stand behind that policy announcement in the budget?

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

The work the government is doing is to ensure that the federal student financial assistance provided to students is utilized in institutions that will provide quality education.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's just not an answer to the question. I think the public can see that.

Deputy Minister Thompson, perhaps you won't mind me putting you in the hot seat. You often speak on government policy. Even though you're not responsible for making it, you're responsible for implementing it.

Is it your understanding that the section I just read from on page 217 is still government policy?