Evidence of meeting #25 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 students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
I'm not insulting. I'm not implying that they aren't doing their work. I'm simply advising that they perhaps do not understand the process and the procedure as well as required to be able to understand what's going on right now and what has happened in some of these things. They're accusing us of obstruction when they're the ones obstructing things at every step.
Thank you.
Liberal
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Chair, the goal isn't to filibuster.
It's simple. This is something that we agreed on so that we can shed light on these cases. The minister spoke about 85,000 cases. We want this ready for the next meeting, of course. I want the committee's work to move forward. Let's take care of this formality in order to obtain the figures.
Afterwards, we can quickly come to an agreement on your motion, Ms. Desrochers. I would like to move a small amendment to your motion. As I said, we aren't against the school food program. We'll come to a quick agreement on your motion. However, before we do, I would just like to move a small amendment.
Since we have a great deal of work to do, let's come to an agreement on this formality first. Let's stop getting bogged down in minutiae. We'll then be able to quickly move on to your motion.
Liberal
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
I forgot something, Mr. Chair. I apologize.
I also wanted to move my motion, because I was talking about formalities. I really want the Liberals to know that I would like to work with them. I'll just move my motion so that we can get this sorted out. I lost track because I really want us to move forward. I'll move my motion and then there can be an amendment:
Considering that the minister informed the House that 85,000 people have been affected by processing errors caused by the Curàm software; That the committee request that the Department of Employment and Social Development provide the number of cases, broken down by region, no later than the day the minister appears before the committee.
I'll move my motion. There may be an amendment. Let's sort this out quickly. We can then proceed with the motion moved by Ms. Desrochers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
We had a speaking order of Madame Desrochers and then Mr. Genuis. We are running out of time.
Liberal
Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to make something clear. The member's request in the motion is perfectly rational and reasonable. That isn't why we're speaking up today. Instead, the reason is that we never manage to get any work done in this committee. Every time we try to move forward, something else comes up.
This issue could have easily been resolved through an email to the committee. We could easily have made a request to the minister before her appearance. Why do we have another motion that wasn't placed on notice? Another motion has appeared on the table, once again, this morning. This happens at almost every meeting. The committee's work is being impeded. We spend time debating and arguing. This isn't what we should be doing. This isn't what Canadians expect us to do.
Are you taking pictures of me, Mrs. Goodridge? That's what you seem to be doing with your telephone. I find that highly disrespectful if that's what you're doing.
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
We are not allowed to take photos in here. There was no way I was taking a photo in here. I understand the rules.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
That is correct. Thank you, Madam Goodridge.
Madame Desrochers, you have the floor.
Liberal
Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you.
As I was saying, it isn't that we oppose the motion. Since the start of this committee's work, we've been very co‑operative. We've accepted the opposition's proposals on significant issues. We've done our job. The issue is that 15 motions are now pending.
They are waiting to have their next steps.
We can't even get things done. Every week, we add one thing and then another. It's a bit disrespectful to Canadian taxpayers, who expect us to do serious work. We have serious issues to address.
My colleague from Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan has often raised the issue of youth unemployment. It's an important issue. Mr. Reynolds has often raised the issue of workers in the skilled trades. This is also an important issue. It's a key issue for everything that we want to accomplish to build the Canada of the future. We need to work on this. Unfortunately, we're unable to get to these important issues.
We really want to talk about the national school food program. The budget contains important items that will help Canadians. However, we're unable to move forward. The Canadian dental care plan, for example, will help more than six million Canadians. The national school food program concerns 58,000 children in Alberta, as well as thousands of children in Quebec and Nova Scotia. We can't even discuss this program, because the Conservatives are opposed to it. I'm not saying that the Bloc Québécois is opposed to it. The Bloc says that it supports the program, but it doesn't want to debate our motion. Make of this what you will.
Mr. Chair, I would just like to ask my colleagues the following question. Can the committee work constructively?
Thank you.
Conservative