Evidence of meeting #38 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 homelessness.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Members speaking

Before the committee

Patty Hajdu  Minister of Jobs and Families
Wright  Deputy Minister of Labour and Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thompson  Deputy Minister, Department of Employment and Social Development
Clarkson  President and Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre Society
Beauregard  Coordinator, Table Itinérance Rive-Sud

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

I will finish my comments.

I want to say two things. Unions are very concerned about supports for their members when they're pursuing labour mobility, which is a big part of life in the trades. There's a lot of work happening with unions around mental health in the workforce, especially with remote working, including things like physical activity and opportunities for entertainment. Many unions talk about the unsuitable accommodations provided by the employer and the advocacy they're doing to get better accommodations for people who are working far away.

I just wanted to acknowledge your dad.

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you.

Mr. Genuis, it's your question. You have two minutes.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Thank you.

Just to follow up on claims about the airline worker strike leading to shortages of organ tissue, Blacklock's did an ATIP request on this that revealed there was simply no evidence for that claim. Was the department's response to the ATIP not accurate?

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

There's evidence that comes in from a number of different sources. I was briefed that there would be a shortage of medical supplies, including, potentially, organs and—

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Did that briefing include departmental officials?

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

In the number of briefings I had, I was informed that this was going to create critical shortages of medical supplies.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Were officials present or providing that briefing?

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

I have a point of order.

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

I've said three times now that I received a briefing.

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

This is getting repetitive, Mr. Genuis.

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

There were many people working on this, and it was undeniably clear.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

I understand what you're saying, Minister. It's just that the department had absolutely no record of any of those conversations.

An hon. member

I have a point of order.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

It does seem that the precise correlation between the information you communicated and the facts is such as to cause epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language—

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

I know what epistemological means as well.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

—a heavier burden than they can reasonably be expected to bear.

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

When there is a labour disruption the size of the one that occurred last summer, there are many disruptions, including for the cargo that Air Canada was supplying around the country—and the world, in fact.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

The department has no record of your being briefed on that.

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

The department already answered that.

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

You claim you've been briefed. You won't tell us if officials were present or not for that briefing.

I'll go back to the officials. Normally when briefings take place, senior officials are present. There is a record of that, yet this ATIP provided no response. Was the ATIP accurate? Does the department have any such information?

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Mr. Genuis.

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

I find it interesting that the member has never been a minister, and he “normally” knows what briefings look like.

9:10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

I was a ministerial staffer. I know how briefings work. I've sat in on many of them.

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Ms. Church, you have two minutes.

Leslie Church Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON

Minister, I know how important the provinces and territories are as partners in delivering on employment and our skilled trades objectives. I'm just wondering if you could speak a bit to how important the government's labour market agreements with provinces and territories are in supporting training and upskilling our workers affected by tariffs.