Evidence of meeting #69 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was support.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
This is a national issue. Our economy is a national economy, and we have a national workforce in this country, and so there's a role for the federal government.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Thank you.
You recommend apprenticeship tax incentives. Have these been costed by any organizations you're involved with?
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Yes, and if you'd like us to table them, we can.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
They've also been costed by Finance and HRSDC.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Great.
You said, that governments should be held “accountable for the billions of dollars transferred in Labour Market Development Agreements”.
Do you agree?
February 28th, 2013 / 4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
I agree. A labour market development agreement is a deal with a Canadian province whereby the federal government writes a cheque and then the province delivers curriculum with no policy constraints or milestones.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I see. You say you believe there should be a travel grant given to allow for labour mobility. Has this been costed as well and can you table it?
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Yes, sir.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Thank you.
You say there's no public policy framework to increase the skilled-labour pool in Canada.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Can you read the entire sentence?
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
There is no public policy framework to increase the skilled-labour pool.
4:50 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
At this time there is not a lot of coordination—
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Okay, thank you.
You said there's a need for a pan-Canadian strategy for economic opportunity in the energy sector.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
I don't think I would be wrong in saying that a lot of our energy partners have said that as well.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
For skilled trades, yes.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
I don't think I'd comment on that.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
For smart grid electricity distribution, you comment quite heavily on the need to maintain, update, and upgrade the electricity infrastructure going forward in the next 50 years.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Absolutely.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
It's a Canadian issue. Our electricity infrastructure was built 75 years ago.
4:55 p.m.
Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
We need significant investment.