Industry Committee on Nov. 28th, 2016

[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.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Okay.

[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.

[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.

[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—

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Again, Minister, how many jobs? That's what I'm asking.

[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.

[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.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

No—I just highlighted the jobs that were created, and we'll continue to—

[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?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Could you repeat the question?

[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?

[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.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Is one of the criteria that it's a Liberal riding?

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

Pardon?

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Is one of the criteria that it's a Liberal riding?

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

That's for Ontario.

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Mississauga—Malton, ON]

So when you say $30 million, you are talking about Ontario. What was your question?

[Alex Nuttall, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Do you think that $28 million of $30 million is a fair number?

[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.