Evidence of meeting #36 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was jobs.
A video is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
I am very confident that much of the feedback we received from Canadians will be reflected in our budget, but there's a process entailed.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
I'm working very closely with the Minister of Finance and my colleagues, and the hope is to have a lot of these ideas reflected in that.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
So we're over a year in, and there is no plan being put before the Canadian people with regard to jobs.
Last week we had the Premier of the Northwest Territories in committee. He said his goal was 36,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.
Minister, what is your goal for job creation for the next year? All I'm looking for is the number of jobs.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
First of all, just to correct the record, we made a significant down payment on the innovation agenda. I talked about the $2-billion investment with universities and colleges. That was a significant investment with regard to innovation in the 2016 budget, which we rolled out in advance of the original timetable we had. We are getting those investments out more quickly.
We also committed $500 million for broadband connectivity, which I alluded to in my remarks, which again—
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Again, Minister, how many jobs? That's what I'm asking.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
I am getting there, but I also wanted to clear the record. You said we did nothing on the innovation agenda, and I felt it was important for me to highlight just a couple of key aspects. I won't go through the long list that we have in terms of the innovation elements of it.
The other quick item is the $500 million that we invested in broadband connectivity. Again, this is something that will benefit rural and remote communities.
Just to put things in perspective, the government works with industry and businesses to create conditions for job growth. Based on StatsCan information and the work that we've done so far since we've taken government, we've created 139,600 jobs in conjunction with industry, academia, and other levels of government, and a lot of those jobs have been from coast to coast to coast.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Thank you.
So, net new jobs are at zero, and you don't have a goal for the next year that you are willing to at least tell us.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
No—I just highlighted the jobs that were created, and we'll continue to—
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Mr. Bains, do you believe that the CIP 150 funds are being distributed fairly around the country?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Do you believe that the CIP 150 funds, the Canada 150 funds, are being distributed fairly across the country?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Again, we evaluate those on a case-by-case basis. They are based on very clear criteria that have been established. We look at the merits based on that, and that's how we determine if they meet the requirements.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Is one of the criteria that it's a Liberal riding?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Is one of the criteria that it's a Liberal riding?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
No. The criteria are focused on diversity—for example, young and aboriginal people—and on celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Of the $30 million being spent, $28 million went to Liberal ridings. Of the CIP funds that have been put out in terms of contracts, the highest number of contracts awarded, 31, were awarded in your area of Brampton and Mississauga. Do you think that this is a fair allocation of the resources the Canadian people give the Canadian government?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
We have a very robust process. I am very confident in the process that evaluates these projects. Again, these projects are based on what we receive, based on the criteria that we've set to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary. That is how we allocate the funding.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
So you think it's appropriate that $28 million out of $30 million—90% of the funds—has gone to Liberal-held ridings.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Which $30 million are you alluding to? The Canada 150 is a $150-million commitment, so $30 million seems to be a number that doesn't coincide with that amount.
4 p.m.
Conservative
4 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
So when you say $30 million, you are talking about Ontario. What was your question?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Do you think that $28 million of $30 million is a fair number?
4 p.m.
Liberal
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
I think the funding allocation should be based on criteria and merit. I've been very clear about that with my officials, and that is exactly how we've deployed those funds.