Evidence of meeting #43 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pensions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Scott Duvall NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON
Thank you. I agree with you 100%.
Mr. Zigler, do you believe that it's imperative that we make sure this bill somehow has to be identified, and work has to be done, to make sure that we're protecting our pensioners right across Canada? Do you believe that even though, over the years, many committees have been formed, it's time now that we act to make sure that Canadian pensioners are protected?
Barrister, Solicitor and Partner, Koskie Minsky LLP, As an Individual
I fully agree after 40 years of trying. We learned 15 years ago that you can create a small superpriority for wages and create a wage earner protection plan. Why can't we do the same sort of thing for pensions as a start? The world didn't fall apart because we created a superpriority for wages. Let's create one for pensions, and let's create a guaranteed fund.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you very much.
That's our time for this study today.
Before I go to MP Baldinelli, I would like to thank our witnesses for being with us today.
Thank you very much for your testimony. It will be very helpful to us in our deliberations on Bill C‑253.
With that, I will allow our witnesses to leave, and then I will turn the floor over to MP Baldinelli.
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today.
The motion I shared with committee members last meeting proposes that our committee invite Monique Gomel to testify for no more than one hour. She is the newly appointed interim chairperson of the Canadian Tourism Commission, also known as Destination Canada. Last year the committee had the opportunity to call forward to testify Marsha Walden, the newly appointed president and CEO. Given the importance of our tourism sector and the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on this vitally important sector to our economy, I think it's important that we also have an opportunity to speak with Ms. Gomel.
As you know, budget 2021 commits $100 million to Destination Canada for marketing funds. As we go forward towards a recovery, it's crucially important to examine Destination Canada's role in the use of those funds and the assistance it can provide in the recovery that's critically needed for a sector that prior to COVID was worth $105 billion. We're looking at 1.8 million workers and 2% of Canada's GDP, and in my community alone, 40,000 workers and 16,000 hotel rooms. My community is the number one leisure destination for tourism in all of Canada, and we have about 2.4 billion dollars' worth of receipts.
It's crucially important, I believe, that we have an opportunity to speak with Destination Canada and Ms. Gomel in her new role, and I look forward to meeting with her. Of course as part of that, I propose we do this before June 23 and the recess.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you very much, MP Baldinelli.
You've all received the notice of motion, so I open the floor to debate.
Mr. Lemire, you have the floor.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Clearly, I support my colleague Mr. Baldinelli's motion. Yes, tourism is a priority that must be maintained. We could ask questions about the related approaches. It is important, because we are getting to the end of the COVID‑19 situation and, in the spirit of economic recovery, we must take a close look at those approaches.
I would like to point out that Bill C‑272 has just been brought to our attention. I know we had two free days in our preliminary schedule, but I think we will have to be creative.
Madam Chair, I'm curious to see what plan you come up with.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Is there any further discussion?
Are there any other interventions on the motion?
Seeing none, I'll go to the clerk.
Do we need a recorded division, or can we go with consent?
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michael MacPherson
If there's consent, we will not need a recorded vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Do I have the consent of the committee to adopt the motion?
Thank you.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
With that, I'll ask MPs to kindly log off of Zoom and get back on Zoom for the in camera portion of the meeting so we can discuss the report. I will see you shortly.
[Proceedings continue in camera]