Human Resources committee  I'm just going to quickly— Go ahead, Mr. Ruff.

Human Resources committee  One of the challenges with the video is the timing of the video: to make sure the video comes out quickly enough. It's also a matter of our usually doing low-cost options, to make sure that the funding for the award goes to the applicants themselves, and not to the video production.

Human Resources committee  I'm just going to add a quick insert about this. Normally we give applicants about five weeks from the date we actually publicize it to submit an application. Just looking at the time frame and understanding that many of the applicants, like Tara Collins, are often in education, in school and post-secondary education, in looking at the time, you have from September until April.

Human Resources committee  On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we were talking about a student nutrition policy program across the country, and it was her words, not mine, that the study would be silly. I don't think it's silly to study this type of issue. I think student nutrition is a very important issue.

Human Resources committee  I want to thank Mr. Van Bynen for the motion. I think it's very timely. It's very specific. Members opposite want to amend it to expand the scope of it, but there's no question, looking at the original motion: The member has a specific area of focus that he would like this committee to look at, and that's seniors and how they're impacted in rural Ontario and Canada as a whole.

Human Resources committee  Ms. Kusie, I'll read the whole thing. “That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the difficulties rural Canadians face, in particular seniors”— Would that be correct?

Human Resources committee  —“that the committee invite experts and departmental officials to testify; that the committee hold at least five meetings and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.”

Human Resources committee  Yes. It reads: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the difficulties rural Canadians face, in particular seniors; that the committee invite experts and departmental officials to testify; that the committee hold at least five meetings; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Human Resources committee  I will take a look and come back to the committee about that.

Human Resources committee  It would be my pleasure. There was a $25-million investment in the 2019 budget to support Black-led, Black-supported, community-based organizations throughout the country. This report would look to see if the program has been successful and how it's working, to better align it to support organizations even further.

Human Resources committee  I appreciate the support in recognizing that it's good practice to shed light on programs that we put forward almost three years ago. There's a lot of indication out there that the program is very successful. It has gone into investing in infrastructure and programs that were not traditionally funded by government in the past, and there is a lot of learning.

Human Resources committee  I certainly think that we could be in support of this motion. It's certainly very important and relevant to our society, especially in the evolving pandemic environment and, hopefully, coming out of the pandemic. My only concern would be where we prioritize it. I believe that there are other studies that we have already approved and that would take priority over this one.

Human Resources committee  Shall the decision of the chair be sustained? (Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 6; yeas 5)

Human Resources committee  As Madame Chabot stated, we did a study last Parliament, and as per the motion at least one two-hour meeting was initially projected to occur prior to the end of the last Parliament, but the committee never had the opportunity to complete that last session. Madame Chabot's motion clearly outlines at least one two-hour meeting on this matter to complete the study, and it will provide the opportunity for the analysts to take into consideration all the material that was received last Parliament and prepare a draft report for the consideration of the committee.

Human Resources committee  I'll just provide a quick comment. There is a subcommittee that has been adopted as per the routine motions. That was adopted on December 13. It is up to the chair and the committee in the future to organize a subcommittee meeting.