Evidence of meeting #27 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was luxury.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Thank you very much, Chair.
I'm going to ask two quick questions—one each for Mr. Suppa and Ms. Johnston.
You talked about what we can do to lean on newcomers and also international students, but we recognize that in Canada right now there are hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers, and many are working in trades. They may not be fully certified, but they are working.
I want to get your opinion. Do you have any thoughts on undocumented workers who are currently in the country? What can we do to bring them into the trades or create a pathway for them to gain their status?
We'll start with Ms. Johnston.
Chief Executive Officer, Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada
I'm sorry, I'm unaware of that. It's kind of the silent question.
I will look into that and get an answer for you.
President and General Manager, Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
I don't have an opinion on that, because I'm not too familiar with that sector.
To build on it, I think we need to do a better job of getting the fact of skilled trade opportunities beyond the high schools. We need to start at the grade schools. We need to start teaching young kids about the value of the trades, and that it's a noble trade. Once they get into high school, it may be a challenge, because in some cases they may have made their decision. I think we need to start at grade school.
Let's give the high schools back some tools and labs where they can start working on plumbing equipment or heating equipment or whatever it may be as part of the recognition and the move towards apprenticeship. We need to use some of those dollars to provide solutions right across the country and maybe start off with a couple of pilot projects in various sectors across the country.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Thank you, Mr. Suppa.
You mentioned in your opening statement that attention should be paid to the supply chain infrastructure to deal with the rising shipping costs.
Do you have any specific recommendations on what government can do?
President and General Manager, Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
All I can say is good luck with that one. I don't know if we can control it. The stories I'm hearing.... Specifically, it was $3,000 for a container shipment a couple of years ago, and now that number has risen to $30,000 or $35,000. In some cases, I'm hearing that my members' sales are up, but their profits are down because they have to pay wage inflation to their employees and also these additional costs. They can't go into the market and raise prices any longer, because it's just not competitive to do that.
If there's a way you can release the ports to get those shipping containers to move a little quicker, that would be a huge help. I know there are some struggles at the port of Los Angeles, in Halifax and other areas. Any way the government can help expedite some of those transfers would be awesome.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Does anybody else want to weigh in on this question?
Okay, I cede my time. Thank you, Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you very much, Mr. Dong. That concludes our questions for today.
I want to thank all witnesses for joining us. It's been very informative for this committee as we pursue this study on small and medium-sized businesses and competitiveness.
You're free to go. Have a great weekend. Thank you very much.
For committee members, we have a motion by Madam Gray to discuss, so I will yield the floor to Madam Gray.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm moving the motion I put on notice on Wednesday. It's a very short motion. It reads:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development and the Minister of Labour to appear before the committee at their earliest convenience on or before June 21, 2022, to answer questions on the committee study on small and medium-sized enterprises; that the ministers appear at the meeting exclusively for the purpose of this study and no other matters; and that this meeting be televised.
The context for this is to have the relevant members here to enable us to ask them questions on this important study. It's clear that we need to hear from the ministers on this study. I think I'll just leave it there.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you.
Are there any interventions on this motion before us?
I see Monsieur Lemire.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I support this motion, as it would be interesting to hear from the two ministers involved.
I would add that I am prepared for this to be done in September, because a committee meeting was cancelled last week, and there are witnesses we have not been able to invite back. But I want to make sure that we still have at least one meeting with those witnesses, because there are still important people on the list.
I would like to note one other thing. In terms of the committee report on the quantum study, perhaps half an hour would be sufficient. Maybe we could do it in the last half hour of the next meeting.
I will commit to sending my recommendations in advance so that they can be incorporated into the report. These are perhaps ways of trying to do a little more in the time set aside for the committee.
Thank you.
Liberal
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
Thank you, Chair.
My initial thoughts about this are that I saw the draft report on quantum computing. We spent some time on that, hearing the witnesses and all. I know we don't have much time left; we don't have many meetings left before the session ends. I would like to make sure that we put aside some time to wrap up that study. It appears there are a lot of persons interested in that subject.
With regard to asking the ministers to come over here and answer some questions, I think it's a good idea. I think it's their portfolio. The only thing I will point out is that the time prescribed in the motion is before June 21. I just don't know how realistic that is, given that one of the ministers is the Minister of International Trade. She travels all the time. I don't even know whether or not she is in the country.
Can I perhaps ask for a friendly amendment? Maybe take it away, remove it or replace it with “as soon as possible”. Even if we as a committee prescribe a deadline, if that doesn't work out with her schedule, we will have to come back with another proposal. It's just a friendly amendment, and I want to see if my honourable colleague would consider that.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We have to recognize as well that we had main estimates but we didn't have the minister come and speak to us in this round, so we missed out on that opportunity. It's been months since we've had the minister come to this committee. Really, it expands on lines of questions that we have from all members here, where, for example, the officials weren't really able to answer any questions. There has been a desire, maybe loosely even talked about with the group, to have the minister come.
This just formalizes it, so that we can have it happen before we rise to go to our constituencies for the summer. Surely the minister would be able to accommodate. We had a meeting that was cancelled, which was unfortunate, because then maybe that wouldn't have backed things up. That was really not in our control, for those of us on the committee anyway. I think it's a reasonable request considering the importance of the study and that we haven't had officials who have been able to answer questions.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Real quick, I like this. This is actually a really smart thing to do, because it will also give a bit of a window onto what the minister's priorities are for the summer and fall. We're also going to start to get more legislation coming from private members' business and so forth later on. It's only going to get even more challenging.
I think this is great, and I sit on both international trade and this committee, so there has been a lot of duplication as well of stuff happening. I really support this and think we should wedge it in there.
It's also about the importance of these committees. We've had some meetings cancelled because of the complications of the House and so forth, and this committee is very important. I really like this idea, because again, we get a glimpse of what the minister might have up for the fall.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
Thanks, Chair.
I have a slightly nuanced position from what Brian just gave. Yes, we've had a number of meetings cancelled because of the machinations of the House. That should not be made the problem of the witnesses who have really generously offered to give their time and experience to us, nor should this motion cause witnesses who have already made arrangements in their lives to come and talk to us be further delayed or have their upcoming appearances pre-empted.
I feel like our duty is to the witnesses. This study is to hear from witnesses. We have access to the minister in various ways. I would just like to maybe open it for discussion, so that we hear from the folks whom we have already bumped before we go bumping them some more. I'd like to see how people feel about that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I see no more hands and no amendment on the table, so I think we are going to vote on the motion, if I am correct procedurally, Mr. Clerk.
Just as a note from my perspective, if I'm not mistaken, Madam Gray, there are two ministers in that motion. The clerk will attest that sometimes it's hard to get ministers to get by, but I think, from what I gather from the room and the virtual room, there is an interest from all sides in having the ministers come at the earliest possible point.
We'll vote on the motion as it is.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
I'm sorry, Chair, I don't feel strongly that we should not have her here, so I make that suggestion. I don't think.... Maybe you can canvass committee members and see if everyone agrees.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Is there a need for a vote? No.
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you very much.
That concludes our meeting. I wish you all a great weekend.
I thank the interpreters, analysts, clerk and support staff.
The meeting is adjourned.