Human Resources Committee on Sept. 24th, 2026

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Bains, if there's one thing we can agree on here, it's that these trades are important. I'm also from a family with people in the construction industry on both my father's and my mother's side. I've heard people talk about bricks, mortar and wood my whole life. It's true that these people do very important work.

Having said that, Mr. Bains, I want to address a few other things that we've heard in response to the bill. We've heard that the bill does not provide for any veto mechanism or formal consent from the provinces. While it provides for at least nine months of consultation, that in no way guarantees that Quebec will be able to block, amend or attach conditions to the application of this framework within its territory. Quebec will be consulted but has no decision-making power.

How do you respond to that?

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

When you look at the consultations respecting each jurisdiction, they do have decision-making power. That is part of negotiating the standards with their counterparts from the other jurisdictions.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Okay.

Also, based on what we've heard, the definition of “skilled trades”, which focuses on Red Seal and Blue Seal programs, strengthens pan-Canadian tools that do not always align with Quebec's specific linguistic, cultural, regulatory and institutional characteristics in the areas of professional training and regulations. In addition, these tools tend to standardize the Quebec system according to the Canadian model.

Finally, if this bill is enacted, it may encourage the provinces to lower qualification standards in the name of facilitating mobility, potentially undermining public protection, workplace safety, working conditions and recognition of Quebec's sector-specific realities.

You may have a few seconds left to respond, Mr. Bains.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We need a short answer, Mr. Bains.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

I think that's an opinion you may have. I don't see it that way.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you. That concludes the questioning round for Mr. Bains.

Thank you for coming in.

As the chair, I have just a few observations from comments made. Actually, I was a signatory to that internal trade agreement in 1995 that you referenced.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Richmond East—Steveston, BC]

Thank you for your leadership, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

As we all know, members use their bills, those who get the privilege—and I have never had that privilege, Mr. Bains, of introducing a private member's bill—to highlight an area that's important to them. They're not binding on government, but they do highlight an area. I commend you for this particular one, because I deal as well with people frustrated over minor items that allow them to practise their trade in jurisdictions. Hopefully, it highlights this issue, and there will be some some particular changes.

With that, you're free to go, Mr. Bains.

I want to go through two housekeeping items before we conclude. For the study of this bill, we were considering scheduling the clause-by-clause consideration for Tuesday, October 20. This would mean a deadline for amendments of Thursday, October 15, at noon.

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

Chair, I think that timeline is fine. What I would suggest is that we have two meetings with external witnesses, which we can have in the next sitting week, which would be October 6 and October 8. Then, on October 20, we would like a chance to ask officials questions about this bill as well. We think you can do an hour of just questions with officials and then go straight into clause-by-clause the same day. That way, the officials are already here, and I think an hour will be sufficient for clause-by-clause.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That was my plan in discussion with the clerk. The officials could not prepare to be here today. That's why we didn't do it.

That's fine with me. You've heard Mr. Genuis's observations. Are we all in agreement? Good.

We have a little time today. For our upcoming studies on the national school food program and the EI parental leave, would members be amiable to Friday, November 27, for the deadline for written briefs for both of those?

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

I'm not sure we need the deadline to be.... I mean, it's still two months from now. Given that we have a bunch of different things on our agenda, I don't think we will have completed those studies by then.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

It's a deadline to notify people so that they can begin doing it. As in the past, if something is a problem, we can extend it. At this time, I would recommend to the committee that we set November 27 as a deadline for written briefs to be submitted on those two studies.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Could we add to that the provision that if we do have other legislation coming to us...? Part of what we had agreed to was making sure that bills that come here are made a priority, so—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Yes, and they will be.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

—it's with the understanding of that flexibility, in case we're halfway through or something or not even....

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That's always been our practice.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake, SK]

Perfect. Yes, that's great.

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

I think that makes sense. We'll set that as the deadline, and if by the end of November we have barely started those studies because we've been working on bills or something else, at that point we can make a decision to extend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

As I said, this committee can change whatever it agrees to one day on the next day by majority, so I don't put too much effort into it.

With that, is it the will of the committee to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We're adjourned.