HUMA committee briefing binder: Appearance of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion - March 24, 2022

Official title: Appearance of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion - Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA), Study: Mandate Letter and 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates, March 24, 2022

On this page

Opening statement

  1. Opening remarks (Podium)

Mandate letter

  1. Scenario note
  2. Mandate letter tracker (including key messages)

Main estimates

  1. Main estimates tracker
  2. Qs and As

Committee Information

  1. Committee membership and biographies
  2. Biographies of ESDC critics

1. Opening remarks (Header not included in original binder)

Mr. Chair and Committee members, thank you for inviting me to join you today.

I am pleased to speak to you about my Main Estimates as they pertain to my mandate letter.

First, main estimates

The funding for Employment and Social Development Canada represents a total of $87.4 billion in planned budgetary expenditures. This is a net increase of $5 billion over last year’s Mains. This is primarily due to significant increases for the early learning and child care agreements with provinces and territories, and for the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. We are also forecasting important increases to the Old Age Security pension (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). These increases are being offset by a decrease for the 3 statutory temporary recovery benefits.

Next, my mandate items, where I will account for some of my Main Estimates and focus specifically on:

  • supporting workers impacted by the pandemic
  • modernizing Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) system
  • improving the temporary foreign workers program
  • building a strong, skilled workforce
  • ensuring that post-secondary education is more affordable and
  • making Canada a more barrier-free, disability-inclusive country

Canada worker lockdown benefit

As Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, I am responsible for ensuring that workers in Canada are supported.

Most recently, this has meant the creation of the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. During the rise of Omicron in December, we expanded the definition of a lockdown so that more workers would be eligible. This expanded eligibility ended on March 12.

We also increased the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit—which, as you see in the Main Estimates, shows a combined decrease of almost $6.5 billion.

These 3 benefits are available until May 7.

EI modernization

One key lesson we learned in the pandemic was just how important Employment Insurance is, and how much stronger Canada’s system could be.

I would like to thank the members of this committee for their excellent study of this issue, which included 20 recommendations on modernizing the EI program.

On February 17, we wrapped up Phase 1 of our EI consultations. We’ve held 10 national sessions and 11 regional sessions.

A parallel online survey invited Canadians to share their views. We received more than 1,900 responses and 60 written submissions.

We heard that Employment Insurance could be fairer and more inclusive. It should be simpler to navigate, and it should get benefits to Canadians more quickly.

We also heard that we need a program that supports workers and employers, both when there is high unemployment and when there are labour shortages.

We will publish a summary report soon on what we heard. The second phase of consultations will begin this spring.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Ensuring that workers are safe and supported is a critical part of my mandate, and that includes all workers. Another key priority for me and my department is addressing systemic challenges in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

I have publicly committed to a series of actions to improve upon the quality and timeliness of our inspections. As we prepare for the 2022 agriculture season, my department has delivered these actions. We are now better able to support our inspection staff through supplementary training, enhanced tools and improved workload management.

I am also working with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to help address labour shortages in farming and food processing. Earlier this year, we streamlined the processing for many of these employers, and we’ll work with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to establish a new Trusted Employer System.

Adding that, you see an additional almost $19 million in contributions for the Migrant Worker Support Network.

Building a strong, skilled workforce

We all know that Canada is experiencing a shortage of available workers across many sectors and regions. To grow our economy, I am taking action to maximize workforce participation by breaking down barriers to employment, and by helping workers upskill to adapt to a changing labour market.

To that end, I’m committed to expanding the Foreign Credential Recognition Program to help more newcomers enter the Canadian job market. Yesterday morning, I announced funding for 9 organizations that will help thousands of qualified newcomers enter our health care workforce more quickly.

I am also moving forward with a Disability Employment Strategy to help employers make their workplaces more inclusive and reach an untapped talent pool.

To help address labour shortages, one of my priorities is to promote the skilled trades as first choice careers for young people and diverse populations. We launched the National Skilled Trades advertising campaign, which provides information on training, federal funding and in-demand trades by region.

We are also committed to doubling the Union Training and Innovation Program, and moving forward with the Apprenticeship Service, which will provide more training opportunities for Canadians pursuing a career in the trades. Just last week, we announced new investments in Halifax and Sudbury through the UTIP program that will ensure more people get trained skills such as carpentry and other essential, in-demand skilled trades.

My mandate also includes ensuring that Canada’s workforce is ready to meet a low-carbon future. We are doing this by investing in the new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. To build talent for the clean economy, we are also committed to launching the new Clean Jobs Training Centre.

Support for students

To make life more affordable, a critical part of my mandate is to make post-secondary education more accessible in Canada.

To do this, our government has committed to permanently eliminating federal interest on Canada Student Loans. We will also make repayment systems more flexible and less burdensome on Canadians through multiple measures, including increasing the repayment assistance program threshold to $50,000 for borrowers who are single, and allowing new parents to pause repayments until their youngest child reaches the age of 5.

We will also look to increase debt forgiveness for doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners who work in rural and remote areas—we are committed to increasing their debt forgiveness by 50%.

Before I conclude, I would like to turn to a part of my mandate that is very close to my heart—our work to improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

Canada Disability Benefit

No Canadian with a disability should live in poverty. One of my key priorities is creating a new Canada Disability Benefit and consulting on its design with members of the disability community, provinces and territories and other stakeholders.

Once implemented, such a benefit could help lift hundreds of thousands of working-aged Canadians with disabilities out of poverty.

I would like to take a moment to thank those members who have contacted me personally with their support to re-table the benefit legislation that died on the Order Paper last year. It is one of my top priorities to reintroduce this legislation in the House as soon as possible.

The Canada Disability Benefit is a cornerstone piece of our new Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Action Plan has 4 key pillars: financial security, employment, inclusive spaces and a modern approach to disability.

In the spirit of Nothing Without Us, we will work closely with the disability community on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the design of the Canada Disability Benefit. Persons with disabilities know best what we need, the challenges we face, and which barriers most prevent us from having financial security.

I’m happy to point you to the over $78 million for the Enabling Accessibility Fund Small Projects Grant and $67 million in contributions for the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.

I hope that I have demonstrated the breadth and strength of my commitment to my mandate priorities, as well as my overview of my Main Estimates

I would now welcome your questions.

2. Scenario note

1. Overview

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) has invited you to appear before the committee to discuss your ministerial mandate letter and the Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023.

2. Committee proceedings

  • The appearance is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
  • You will have up to 5 minutes for opening remarks
  • You will be accompanied by:
    • Lori MacDonald, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development and Chief Operating Officer for Service Canada
    • Karen Robertson, Chief Financial Officer
    • Cliff Groen, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Benefits and Integrated Service Delivery Branch
    • Catherine Demers, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch
    • Mary Crescenzi, Assistant Deputy Minister, Integrity Services Branch, Service Canada
  • Departmental officials have agreed to appear for the second hour of the meeting on the same studies. There is a possibility that the meeting could end earlier than anticipated. On Thursday evening, the House of Commons will consider financial procedures in the Chamber and all Members of Parliament would be required to attend votes
  • HUMA Members Stephanie Kusie, Conservative Party of Canada, and Louise Chabot, Bloc Québécois, are the Employment and Workforce Development Critics, the following official Employment critic could replace the New Democratic member on the Committee and be present for your appearance:
    • Daniel Blaikie, New Democratic Party of Canada (Manitoba, Elmwood-Transcona)
  • HUMA has agreed that questioning of witnesses would be allocated as follows:
    • Round 1: 6 minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows
      • Conservative Party
      • Liberal Party
      • Bloc Québécois
      • New Democratic Party
    • For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows:
      • Conservative Party, 5 minutes
      • Liberal Party, 5 minutes
      • Bloc Québécois, 2.5 minutes
      • New Democratic Party, 2.5 minutes
      • Conservative Party, 5 minutes
      • Liberal Party, 5 minutes

3. Parliamentary environment

Questions could focus on the following mandate commitments:

Employment Insurance (EI): there is continued interest from all parties on the general topic of EI program modernization, service standards for EI claims, and access to EI after losing employment while on maternity leave.

Canadians living with disabilities: NDP member Bonita Zarrillo is calling the Government to address the needs of the most vulnerable including those living with disabilities. She could look for your commitment to re-introduce legislation to establish the Canada Disability Benefit and provide details on who will be eligible, how much will be paid or how it will affect existing federal and provincial disability supports.

Training/Temporary Foreign Worker Program: HUMA began a study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy on March 3, 2022, the opposition asked witnesses if the government could benefit from modernizing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to solve labour shortages in various sectors of the economy. This topic could return at the appearance. Additionally, NDP Member Bonita Zarrillo has demonstrated a keen interest in obtaining data on how training programs benefit the most vulnerable, gender equity in the care economy, and the recognition of foreign credentials as a solution to alleviate staff pressures in the health care system.

  • departmental officials appeared before the committee on March 3, 2022, as part of this study, and you have been invited to appear on a date to be determined

Questions could be asked on the general topic of post-secondary students as it relates to Main Estimates, 2022 to 2023 tabled in the House of Commons on March 1, 2022. Particularly, on the $1.6 billion increase to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, an item of significance to your portfolio. You could also receive questions on the Canada Learning Bond measure announced on March 9, 2022,and whether the Government could do more to support students from low-income families.

Mandate letter commitment and main estimates significant items

Theme: Employment Insurance

Bring forward and begin implementing a plan to modernize the EI system for the 21st century, building a stronger and more inclusive system that covers all workers, ensuring the system is simpler and more responsive for workers and employers.

Party position anticipated at HUMA

BQ (Louise Chabot) remains concerned with administrative delays for EI claims, EI claimants losing jobs while on maternity leave and ineligible to EI due to lack of hours.

BQ (Louise Chabot) could request information on the EI consultations (process, participants, etc.)

BQ is looking for the program to be completely reformed in all its aspects: eligibility criteria, benefit rates, etc.

On EI Sickness benefits, all opposition parties want to see benefits increased to at least 50 weeks.

Theme: Canadians living with disabilities

Move forward with the design, introduction and implementation of a Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit for low-income working age persons with disabilities.

Finalize and release Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, in consultation with the disability community, with early actions in key areas of financial security and employment, creating disability-inclusive spaces and adopting a modern approach to and common definition of disability across the Government of Canada.

In addition to measures to be implemented by other ministers, actions will include:

  • Launching an employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities, Undertaking a comprehensive review of access to federal disability programs, including for Canadians with mental health challenges,
  • Supporting national disability organizations to build capacity and partner in efforts to eliminate systemic barriers,
  • Advancing our commitment to permanently fund support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities, and
  • Proceeding with the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the harmonization of accessibility standards across Canada.
Party position anticipated at HUMA

Opposition parties have been critical of the lack of action for Canadians living with disabilities in this pandemic.

Could request timelines on introduction of the Legislation.

The NDP criticized C-35 introduced in June 2021 for not containing any details (who will be eligible, how much will be paid or how it will affect existing federal and provincial disability supports).

The BQ is in favour of the Canada Disability Benefit but is awaiting details on this proposal and could follow up at HUMA.

For income security, the NDP wants to expand support programs to ensure Canadians living with a disability have a guaranteed livable income.

The Conservatives have advocated for changes to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Theme: training

Redesign and implement the Canada Training Benefit, and Address gaps in training and upskilling to ensure that all Canadian workers can take advantage of sustainable battery industry opportunities.

Work with the Minister of Health, provinces, and territories to train up to 50,000 new personal support workers.

Launch a Clean Jobs Training Centre to help workers across sectors upgrade or gain new skills so as to be on the leading edge of the zero carbon industry (Just Transition).

Training opportunities and partnerships in the Red Seal trades across Canada, and target greater participation from more diverse populations, including women, Indigenous people, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and Black and racialized Canadians.

Continue to support the work of the national campaign to promote the skilled trades as first choice careers for young people and diverse populations.

Party position anticipated at HUMA

On March 3, 2022, HUMA began its study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy.

NDP (Daniel Blaikie) urged the Government to do more to provide training to job seekers struggling to find work and invest in programs designed to give them the skills they need.

Questions could focus on training supports for the most vulnerable and those hardest hit by the pandemic, including women, racialized Canadians, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, youth, LGBTQ2+ community and skilled newcomers to Canada.

NDP Bonita Zarrillo has demonstrated in interest in obtaining data and disaggregated data collected on how programs benefit the most vulnerable and how they address gender equality.

NDP recommends raising the level of financial support available to individuals and targeting it to low-income earners.

Questions could focus on whether government support and training should include costs like tuition, and costs such as transportation, childcare expenses, which can represent challenges for low-income earners.

Further questions could seek to address issues such as consultations with the Canadian Support Workers Association on the 50 000 PSWs, capacity in the post-secondary and training institutions, and, concern about a decline in the quality of care that could be a result of compressed, quick training.

Theme: students

Permanently eliminate federal interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans, increase the repayment assistance threshold to $50,000 for Canada Student Loan borrowers who are single and make appropriate adjustments to the thresholds for other family sizes, and allow new parents to pause repayment of their federal student loans until their youngest child reaches the age of 5.

Increase by 50% the maximum debt forgiveness for which family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners and nurses who work in rural or remote areas are eligible under the Canada Student Loans Forgiveness program, expand the current list of eligible professionals and undertake a review to ensure that rural communities are fully eligible in order to improve access to health care and social services in rural communities.

Party position anticipated at HUMA

NDP supports acess to publicly-funded education – from affordable child care and early years education through to university and college, apprenticeship training, skills development, and retraining programs.

Critical of the lack of education funding for young people in Indigenous communities, lack of core funding for on-reserve education, failed to adequately support Indigenous post-secondary students and failed to deliver a plan for how the government will bring all schools on reserve up to provincial standards.

Theme: TFW Program

With the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, establish a Trusted Employer system for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers and, as part of improving the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, simplify permit renewals, uphold the 2-week processing time and establish an employer hotline. Continue to work with provinces, territories and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition.

Party position anticipated at HUMA

The BQ or the CPC have recommended modernizing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to solve labour shortages in various sectors of the economy.

Questions on the March 9, 2022, announcement to bolster 11 foreign-credential recognition programs in order to expedite new immigrants’ integration into the Canadian economy.

Outstanding HUMA

Follow up Commitments:

January 31, 2022

Study: EI Processing Delays

March 3, 2022

Study: Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy

Questions by political affiliation

BQ: Plans or solutions on solving payment delay problems in the short and long term.

NDP: Proactive educational material on identity fraud.

CPC: Number of cases seeking repayment, amount of repayment money being collected for ineligible claims, number of reimbursement reconsidered and waived, and is Service Canada considering not collecting these funds.

LPC: Comparative figures regarding volume of applications and processing time - pre pandemic and during the pandemic.

NDP: Data and disaggregated data collected on employment and training programs.

NDP: Data on correlations between employment and house prices focused on youth.  Data around youth, the labour market and housing

3. Mandate letter tracker (header not in original document)

Full title: Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities -March 24, 2022 - Minister Qualtrough’s Mandate Letter Commitments - Key points to register

Mandate letter commitments

  1. Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
  2. 50,000 New Personal Support Workers
  3. Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit
  4. EI System for the 21st Century
  5. EI Sickness Benefits from 15 to 26 weeks
  6. EI Benefit for Self-Employed
  7. 15-week Benefit for Adoptive Parents
  8. EI Career Insurance Benefit
  9. Artists and Cultural Workers
  10. Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan
  11. Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities
  12. Access to Federal Disability Programs
  13. Capacity in National Disability Organizations
  14. Access for Canadians with Print Disabilities
  15. Accessible Canada Act and Accessibility Standards
  16. Interest on Canada Student Loans, Canada Apprentice Loans
  17. Repayment Assistance Threshold for Canada Student Loan Borrowers
  18. New Parents, Repayment of Federal Student Loans
  19. Maximum Debt Forgiveness for Doctors, Nurse Practitioners and Nurses in Rural and Remote Areas
  20. Transition to a Low Carbon Economy
  21. Clean Jobs Training Centre
  22. Canada Training Benefit
  23. Sustainable Battery Industry Opportunities
  24. Double the Union Training and Innovation Program
  25. Canadian Apprenticeship Service
  26. National Campaign to Promote Skilled Trades
  27. Trusted Employer System
  28. Foreign Credential Recognition
  29. Sector-based Work Permits
  30. Sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy
  31. Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, Wrap-around Supports
  32. GBA Plus

Status of Previous Mandate Letter Commitments

1. Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

Commitment text: Secure passage and ensure implementation of a new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit to support workers whose work is interrupted due to public health measures.

Progress to date

  • The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit Act received Royal Assent on December 17, 2022. The benefit is retroactive to October 24, 2021, to support workers in regions where public health lockdowns have led to work interruptions. The benefit is currently set to expire on May 7, 2022.
  • In December 2021, and in response to the Omicron variant, the Government announced that the definition of lockdown would be expanded to partial lockdowns to include regions where capacity restrictions of 50% or more are in place. This temporary change in the definition was in place until March 12, 2022.

Next steps

Over the coming months, with Health Canada, we will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation across Canada to determine whether additional regions would become eligible or non-eligible for the benefit and if an extension of the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit is needed beyond May 7, 2022.

Responsive points

If pressed on eligibility for workers affected by demonstrations:

Only workers affected by designated COVID-19 lockdowns are eligible for the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. The workers affected by the demonstrations may be eligible for other supports, such as EI.

2. 50,000 new personal support workers

Commitment text: Work with the Minister of Health and provinces and territories to train up to 50,000 new personal support workers.

Progress to date

  • we are collaborating with Health Canada to advance this commitment and will engage provincial and territorial governments to help inform the way forward
  • announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, my department is currently funding a $38.5M pilot project to help address labour shortages in long-term and home care
  • this pilot project will test a new recruitment and training model for up to 2,600 Supportive Care Assistants through micro-certification, of which 1,300 are anticipated to complete full Personal Support Worker certification. The pilot will also explore how to improve consistency across the sector with respect to training programs, work requirements, and core competencies
  • budget 2021 announced $960 million for the new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program to help key sectors of the economy – including the health sector – Implement solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs. The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program launched a Call for Proposals on January 31, 2022 through which applications are expected from proponents to train Personal Support Workers

Next steps

  • my department will collaborate with key partners to support the training of up to 50,000 new personal support workers, informed by the lessons learned from the Long Term and Home Care pilot project
  • we anticipate launching projects as early as summer 2022 under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, which will yield projects that support this mandate commitment

Responsive points

If pressed on this measure and the Government’s action:

  • as of March 14, 2022, there were over 1,400 reserved seats for the Long Term and Home Care pilot project, with almost 650 students in online training
  • on January 31, 2022, I launched the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
  • successful proposals will focus on addressing workforce challenges in the clean economy, healthcare, and sectors hard-hit by the pandemic and crucial to economic recovery
  • we expect that a number of projects, including those that support healthcare commitments, could be launched by summer 2022

3. Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit

Commitment text: Move forward with the design, introduction and implementation of a Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit for low-income working age persons with disabilities.

Progress to date

  • the Government of Canada introduced legislation for the Canada Disability Benefit (Bill C-35) in the House of Commons on June 22, 2021. Bill C-35 died on the order paper upon prorogation of Parliament
  • in Summer 2021, in the spirit of “Nothing Without Us,” the Government launched an engagement process to seek input on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Canada Disability Benefit from disability communities, researchers, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders
  • this engagement includes over 8,600 Canadians having participated in an online survey, roundtables being held, and funding agreements are being put in place to support disability organizations and national Indigenous organizations to engage their members
  • I’ve also engaged with my provincial and territorial counterparts through the Forum of Ministers responsible for Social Services about the design and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit
  • provincial and territorial governments are critical partners in developing the proposed Canada Disability Benefit. With their buy-in, we will have a better chance of maximizing the impact that this new measure will have, to make sure everyone is better off as a result and ensure we do not create any unintended consequences

Next steps

  • we are working towards re-introducing the Canada Disability Benefit legislation in the House of Commons as soon as possible. This legislation would provide the legal basis for the proposed benefit, including regulatory authority
  • in the meantime, in the spirit of “Nothing Without Us,” we will be continuing to engage the disability community, researchers, Indigenous organizations and other stakeholders to inform the design and delivery of the proposed benefit
  • as well, my officials are currently engaged on a joint federal-provincial/territorial work plan to gain a better understanding of the possible interactions between the new benefit and provincial/territorial benefits

Responsive points

If pressed on why the legislation has not yet been introduced given the need:

  • we are very aware of the fact that many Canadians with disabilities are in desperate need of the additional financial support that the proposed Canada Disability Benefit would provide. Our intent, therefore, is to move forward as fast as we can
  • our approach of tabling legislation while engaging stakeholders to inform the design and delivery of the benefit will ensure that the benefit is implemented as quickly as possible while reflecting the needs of the disability community

If pressed on the potential claw back of provincial and territorial supports:

  • I am working with my provincial and territorial counterparts to ensure that the new benefit builds on provincial social assistance and other supports and does not replace them

4. EI System for the 21st century

Commitment text: Taking into account input received through consultations on the future of Employment Insurance (EI), by Summer 2022, bring forward and begin implementing a plan to modernize the EI system for the 21st century, building a stronger and more inclusive system that covers all workers, including workers in seasonal employment and persons employed by digital platforms, ensuring the system is simpler and more responsive for workers and employers.

Progress to date

  • first steps have already been taken to move towards our vision of a stronger and more inclusive EI program
  • the temporary measures announced in Budget 2021 allow for easier and more flexible access to EI as the economy recovers, including:
    • a common national entrance requirement of 420-hours to improve access to EI benefits for workers
    • measures to simplify EI program rules and make it easier to navigate and administer, and
    • enhancements to employer eligibility, duration of benefits, and streamlined application in the EI Work-Sharing program
  • we are also using the lessons learned from the pandemic to begin to deliver on this commitment and realize the vision of an EI program that is accessible to all types of workers, and is adequate, affordable and responsive to labour market needs
  • the temporary measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic laid the groundwork for addressing core EI access and simplification challenges
  • comprehensive consultations with Canadians, labour groups, employers, and other key stakeholders and academic experts to inform the Modernization of EI are well underway, as per the Budget 2021 commitment to consult over a 2-year period, with a focus on improving access to EI
  • the first phase of consultations with workers, employers, academics, and other experts, which started in August 2021, concluded on February 17, 2022. It gathered valuable input through multiple engagement venues on a range of issues identified in Budget 2021, including: EI access and simplification, life events, workers in seasonal industries, self-employed and gig workers, and the Premium Reduction Program
  • as part of these consultations, Canadians were able to provide their views on EI by completing a national online survey – with over 2000 respondents and close to 60 written submissions
  • in addition, we held over 20 national and regional roundtables with employer and worker organizations with the participation of the EI Commissioners. The focus of these roundtables was on EI access and simplification issues, supports for self/employed/gig-workers, persons employed by digital platforms, seasonal workers and workers facing life events

Next steps

  • the Government is analyzing the input and suggestions from the first phase of consultations to inform the development of EI reforms, and proceeding to the second phase of consultations in Spring-Summer 2022 with workers, employers, academics, and other experts. This will complement ongoing work to design a new benefit for the self-employed and more reliable and consistent supports for seasonal workers
  • the second phase will focus on other key issues guiding the objectives of EI modernization, including EI adequacy and financial sustainability, as well as examining in more detail issues requiring further consultation based on phase 1 results (i.e., supports for the self-employed and gig workers)
  • at the same time, the department will be using input received to inform the future of temporary measures scheduled to end in September 2022

Responsive points

If pressed on digital platform workers:

  • our government is committed to advancing amendments that entitle workers employed by digital platforms to job protections under the Canada Labour Code. I will support Minister of Labour on this issue to ensure better benefits and supports for these workers

If pressed on the 2019 mandate commitment to improve the EI pilot project for seasonal workers with a permanent program that provides consistent and reliable benefits:

  • the seasonal pilot project (Pilot Project No. 21) ended in the fall of 2021 and was replaced by a temporary legislated measure, which will expire in October 2022
  • work is ongoing to develop a more permanent measure to support seasonal workers

If pressed on the 2019 mandate letter commitment to introduce a Guaranteed Paid Family Leave program to provide a guaranteed income during the first year of a child’s life:

  • preliminary analysis was undertaken to explore how this potentially complex mandate commitment could be implemented
  • consultations on EI modernization, including how to best support Canadians through all life stages, will continue into 2022
  • these consultations will let us know whether we need to look beyond EI maternity and parental benefits and advance a Guaranteed Paid Family Leave program to ensure that families with young children get the support that they need

5. EI Sickness Benefits from 15 to 26 weeks

Commitment text: Moving forward with extending EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks.

Progress to date

  • EI sickness benefits are an important support for Canadians who leave work due to illness, injury or quarantine. They complement other supports available to workers for longer-term illness and disability
  • amendments to EI Act required to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks were included in the Budget Implementation Act 2021, which received Royal Assent

Next steps

  • amendments to the EI Act to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks are anticipated to come into force towards the end of summer 2022
  • implementation of this extension will provide additional weeks of support to workers with serious illnesses or injuries who require longer periods of treatment or recovery before being able to return to work

6. EI Benefit for self-employed

Commitment text: A new EI benefit for self-employed Canadians that would provide unemployment assistance comparable to EI and lasting for as many as 26 weeks.

Progress to date

  • budget 2021 announced $5 million over 2 years for ESDC to conduct targeted consultations on designing an EI program for the future, including the need for income support for self-employed and gig workers
  • last August, my department launched comprehensive consultations on EI intended to take place over 2 years. The first phase of these consultations ended on February 17, 2022
  • as part of these consultations, Canadians were able to provide their views on EI by completing a national online survey – with over 2000 respondents and close to 60 written submissions
  • in addition, we held over 20 national and regional roundtables with employer and worker organizations and with the participation of the EI Commissioners. The focus of these roundtables was on EI access and simplification issues, supports for self/employed/gig-workers and persons employed by digital platforms, seasonal workers, workers facing life events and improvements to the Premium Reduction Program

Next steps

  • my department will continue engagement with key stakeholders, informed by the preliminary findings resulting from the survey and self-employment roundtable
  • consultations on EI modernization, including supports for the self-employed, will continue into 2022 with workers, employers, academics, and other experts. This will complement ongoing work to design and deliver a new benefit for the self-employed

7. 15-week benefit for adoptive parents

Commitment text: A new 15-week benefit for adoptive parents.

Progress to date

  • As part of the consultations on the modernization of the EI program, I hosted 2 roundtables in December 2021 on how best to support Canadians through life events, during which I heard about the needs of adoptive parents and to make EI maternity and parental benefits more inclusive of the way families are formed.

Next steps

  • My department intends to hold additional targeted discussions with a variety of stakeholders and organizations, including adoption advocates, as we make progress on implementing this commitment.

Responsive points

If pressed on the coming into force date:

  • I cannot commit on a specific implementation date. Timing of implementation will depend on sequencing with other EI commitments and the impact of the pandemic on the EI program

If pressed on whether the benefit will be available to kinship and customary care families:

  • continued engagement with adoption stakeholders will be key to inform the design of this new benefit, and ensure that it responds to the needs of adoptive parents, as well as is as inclusive as possible for various forms of adoption and family formation

8. EI Career Insurance Benefit

Commitment text: A new EI Career Insurance Benefit to provide long-tenured workers who have lost their job with additional income support while they reintegrate into the labour market.

Progress to date

  • Preliminary research and internal departmental consultations are ongoing.

Next steps

  • Public consultations are being considered for the summer of 2022 in order to inform the development of policy options.

Responsive points

If pressed on the implementation of this commitment:

[Note: The Minister’s 2019 mandate letter included the creation of a Career Insurance Benefit]

  • significant implementation challenges remain and are exacerbated by current labour market disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • the introduction of the Career Insurance Benefit must be sequenced with ongoing efforts to respond to COVID-19, as well as the upcoming changes to the EI program and future efforts to modernize the program
  • new EI measures must be implemented in a phased approach for Service Canada to maintain the quality and integrity of each EI system change. There is a risk of service interruption if there is not sufficient time allocated to design, develop and implement the solution

9. Artists and cultural workers

Commitment text: Consideration of the realities of artists and cultural workers.

Progress to date

  • last August, my department launched comprehensive consultations on EI intended to take place over 2 years. The first phase of these consultations ended on February 17, 2022
  • as part of these consultations, Canadians were able to provide their views on EI by completing a national online survey – with over 2000 respondents and close to 60 written submissions
  • in addition, we held over 20 national and regional roundtables with employer and worker organizations and with the participation of the EI Commissioners. The focus of these roundtables was on EI access and simplification issues, supports for self/employed/gig-workers and persons employed by digital platforms, seasonal workers and workers facing life events
  • participants in the first phase of consultations included organizations representing artists and cultural workers, many of whom are impacted by the issues of focus, including improving access to EI benefits, EI simplification and the supports for the self-employed

Next steps

  • My department will continue engagement efforts on how to best support artists and cultural workers, who often are self-employed.

Responsive points

If pressed on consultations to support the realities of artists and cultural workers:

  • budget 2021 announced $5 million over 2 years for ESDC to conduct targeted consultations on designing an EI program for the future, including the need for income support for self-employed and gig workers. In August 2021, ESDC launched comprehensive consultations that will take place over 2 years
  • consultations on EI modernization, including on supports for the self-employed, will continue into 2022 with workers, employers, academics, and other experts. This will complement ongoing work to design and deliver a new benefit for the self-employed, which is expected to benefit artists and cultural workers

10. Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Commitment text: Finalize and release Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, in consultation with the disability community, with early actions in key areas of financial security and employment, creating disability-inclusive spaces and adopting a modern approach to and common definition of disability across the Government of Canada.

Progress to date

  • Early investments have already been made toward the implementation of an Action Plan including:
    • $11.9 million over 3 years to support the development of a modernized process for determining eligibility for disability programs that will also support the development of the Canada Disability Benefit
    • $129.2 million over 2 years, starting in 2021 to 22 for the Enabling Accessibility Fund
    • $65 million in 2021 to 22 for the Opportunities Fund and other funding for employment supports
    • measures to improve financial security for students with disabilities
    • improvements to the Disability Tax Credit, and
    • $11 million over 3 years, starting in 2021 to 2022, for the production and distribution of alternate format materials
  • last summer, in keeping with the Government’s commitment to the principle of “Nothing Without Us,” we engaged with the disability community through roundtable discussions, bilateral discussions, and an online public engagement survey that received approximately 8,600 responses
    • overwhelmingly, respondents indicated the importance of measures to improve the financial security of persons with disabilities so that they may experience levels of inclusion in all the areas of our society on an equal basis as others
  • I met virtually with provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for social services to brief my counterparts on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the proposed Canada Disability Benefit. Federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers committed to work together to improve the well-being of persons with disabilities across Canada
  • last December, Independent Living Canada was selected under the Social Development Partnerships Program Disability component, to lead a cross Canada engagement with the disability community on the design and implementation of key initiatives under the plan

Next steps

  • independent Living Canada will work with disability stakeholders across the country to solicit community perspectives and insights into the design and implementation of key initiatives under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan
  • discussions are also underway for distinctions-based engagement with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis on the Plan
  • engagement with provinces and territories will continue over the coming months
  • I look forward to the release of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan as soon as possible

11. Employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities

Commitment text: Launching an employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities.

Progress to date

  • Development of the Strategy has been informed by consultations that began prior to the passing of the Accessible Canada Act and are ongoing. Most recently, these included:
    • establishing the COVID-19 Disabilities Advisory Group in 2020
      • a series of roundtables on disability inclusion in 2021
      • ongoing bilateral discussions with stakeholders, and
      • results of a survey conducted in Summer 2021 on the framework of the Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan

Next steps

  • I look forward to the release of the Employment Strategy targeting this spring
  • in the meantime, engagement with Canadians with disabilities, employers and other stakeholders will continue in 2022

Responsive points

If pressed on results, existing programming is being leveraged to deliver early responses:

  • the $40 million per year Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities supports some 85 national and regional projects, serving about 4,500 clients per year. The last program evaluation completed in 2020 found that the average annual earnings of participants increased by nearly 40% over the 5-year period following participation in the program. It also found that an investment of $1 invested in the program yielded $1.70 in return over 10 years

If pressed on the goals of the Strategy:

  • the Strategy will:
    • increase access to skills, employment and entrepreneurship supports for Canadians with disabilities
    • improve supports for employers to hire and retain persons with disabilities and create inclusive workplaces, and
    • improve capacity and reach of employment service providers and increase supply, skills, and capacity of disability professionals who support successful transitions into and during employment

12. Access to federal disability programs

Commitment text: Undertaking a comprehensive review of access to federal disability programs, including for Canadians with mental health challenges.

Progress to date

To ensure an accurate assessment of the access to federal disability programs, we have begun reviewing data and evidence from an inventory of federal disability-related programs and benefits, considered experiences in other jurisdictions, and reviewed inputs from stakeholders to assess how a more modern approach could be implemented to support access to these programs and benefits.

Next steps

  • going forward, my department intends to carry out engagement activities with stakeholders, focusing on the incorporation of a modern approach to disability into existing federal disability programs and benefits
  • in keeping with the Government’s commitment to the principle of “Nothing Without Us,” my department is committed to engaging with external stakeholders on access to federal disability programs, including community leaders, policy leaders and people with lived experience of disability

Responsive points

If pressed on timelines:

  • the department plans to launch engagement activities related to this comprehensive review and a modern approach to disability in the spring of 2022 leading to the development of intermediate improvements and recommendations shortly thereafter

If pressed on action related to supporting Canadian with disabilities related to mental health:

  • the department will ensure that this comprehensive review, including engagement activities and subsequent development of recommendations, will address how to improve access to federal disability programs and benefits for those with mental health related disabilities

13. Capacity in national disability organizations

Commitment text: Supporting national disability organizations to build capacity and partner in efforts to eliminate systemic barriers.

Progress to date

  • the Accessible Canada Grants and Contribution program has funded projects to increase capacity and enhance leadership within the disability stakeholder community, in order to raise awareness of the Accessible Canada Act, change attitudes and behaviours, and mobilize knowledge to advance accessibility and drive meaningful inclusion
  • through the Social Development Partnerships Program (Disability component), ESDC provides funding to support the capacity of Canadian disability organizations and to build partnerships across the disability community and with other sectors
    • last December, through the Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability component’s project funding stream, Independent Living Canada was selected as recipient of $650,000 to lead cross Canada engagement with the disability community on the design and implementation of key initiatives under the disability inclusion action plan. This engagement is grounded in an intersectional approach and will highlight the perspectives of underrepresented and harder-to-reach populations within the disability community
    • in addition to this project, funding is being made available to 8 National Indigenous Organizations for the provision of community perspectives on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Public Health Agency-led National Autism Strategy. Funding (up to $400,000 from ESDC and $400,000 from the Public Health Agency of Canada) will flow through existing Engagement Protocol Agreements
    • through this program we are partnering with LIFT Philanthropy Partners to work with a group of disability organizations to increase their capacity to deliver on their mandates for social inclusion and employment outcomes for persons with disabilities
    • this funding will support the active involvement of persons with disabilities in the development and implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Next steps

In the spirit of our commitment to “Nothing Without Us,” under the Accessible Canada Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we will continue to engage and involve persons with disabilities and disability organizations in the development of the Plan.

14. Access for Canadians with print disabilities

Commitment text: Advancing our commitment to permanently fund support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities.

Progress to date

  • access to alternate format reading materials is critical for persons with print disabilities to fully participate in Canadian society. That is why our Government is developing a long-term plan for services that enable access to published works for Canadians with print disabilities
  • our Government has made significant investments in this area already including $10 million announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement for the not-for-profit sector to enable access to alternate format materials. This support on top of an additional $1 million in departmental investments ensures that services for persons with disabilities remains available while we work with persons with disabilities and stakeholders on a longer term strategy
  • these investments build on the $22.8 million over 5 years from Budget 2019 for the Canada Book Fund, delivered by Canadian Heritage. The Fund supports publishers in improving the accessibility of digital print reading materials in Canada

Next steps

In support of the principle that everyone should have access to information and reading material, the Government is taking steps to determine the current and future needs of persons with print disabilities in order to fulfill this commitment in a meaningful way that is effective and responsive, respecting the “Nothing Without Us” principle.

Responsive points

If pressed on what actions this Government is taking to support the not-for-profit sector in this area while a long-term solution is developed:

The Government is working with 2 not-for-profit organizations, the National Network for Equitable Library Service and the Centre for Equitable Library Access, to ensure that funding levels for the next fiscal year do not result in gaps in current support services for persons with print disabilities while the Government continues its work on a long-term solution.

15. Accessible Canada Act and Accessibility Standards

Commitment text: Proceeding with the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the harmonization of accessibility standards across Canada.

Progress to date

  • the Accessible Canada Regulations came into force on December 22, 2021, taking a major step towards a barrier-free Canada, and creating communities, workplaces and services that enable everyone to participate fully in society
  • these regulations require federally regulated organizations to report to the public on their policies and practices to identify and remove existing barriers
  • Accessibility Standards Canada was established in 2019 with the mandate of developing national accessibility standards across the 7 priority areas set out in the Accessible Canada Act. To date, 5  technical committees have been established and are working on standards related to plain language, emergency egress, outdoor spaces, wayfinding, emergency measures, employment and the built environment
  • the Accessible Canada Grants and Contributions program has funded projects to increase capacity and enhance leadership within the disability stakeholder community, in order to raise awareness of the Accessible Canada Act, change attitudes and behaviours, and mobilise knowledge to advance accessibility and drive meaningful inclusion
  • my department recently launched a Call for Proposals for the next round of Accessible Canada grants and contributions using an innovative and renewed approach designed to increase participation of disability organizations from under-represented areas
  • since 2019, my Department has led national celebrations as part of the National AccessAbility Week, a significant milestone to recognize and celebrate the substantial contributions of Canadians with disabilities to our communities and workplaces across Canada

Next steps

  • the work to appoint the Chief Accessibility Officer and the Accessibility Commissioner is underway. The latter will be responsible for compliance and enforcement of the Accessible Canada Act, including the Accessible Canada Regulations published last December
  • accessibility Standards Canada will continue the development of 7 standards, fund research that informs its standards development work, and continue to engage with provincial counterparts with the goal of promoting uptake of the national standards it is developing

16. Interest on Canada Student Loans, Canada Apprentice Loans

Commitment text: Permanently eliminate federal interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans.

Progress to date

  • as announced in Budget 2021, the Government of Canada is waiving interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until March 31, 2023
  • this measure is benefitting over 1 million Canadians by reducing the monthly payments required on their loans

Next steps

My department is holding further consultations with provincial and territorial partners, as well as the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program’s third party service provider on advancing changes related to this commitment.

Responsive points

If pressed about this measure and the Government’s action:

  • the Government is committed to ensuring that post-secondary education is affordable and student debt is manageable
  • this measure will help to reduce the overall cost of post-secondary education for those who need to take out a loan to fund their studies. It will also ensure predictability in repayment, as monthly payment amounts will no longer fluctuate due to changes in the prime rate
  • this measure will build on other enhancements to make student debt manageable, such as interest-free and payment-free leave for up to 18 months for borrowers who take a temporary leave from their studies for parental or medical reasons, including mental health. It will also complement proposed changes to the Repayment Assistance Plan

17. Repayment assistance threshold for Canada student loan borrowers

Commitment text: Increase the repayment assistance threshold to $50,000 for Canada Student Loan borrowers who are single and make appropriate adjustments to the thresholds for other family sizes.

Progress to date

  • budget 2021 committed to increasing the repayment assistance threshold from $25,000 to $40,000 for a single borrower (and higher for larger family sizes), indexing the thresholds to inflation, and lowering the cap on loan payments to 10% of a borrower's family income
  • work is underway to advance these commitments, which includes significant collaboration and engagement with participating provinces and territories and service delivery partners

Next steps

  • work is underway to determine the details of these changes, including the thresholds for higher family sizes, and the timing and sequencing of implementation. As part of this work, further engagement with provinces and territories and delivery partners is required
  • changes to repayment assistance will also require regulatory amendments

Responsive points

If pressed about this measure and the Government’s action:

  • the Government is committed to ensuring that post-secondary education is affordable and student debt is manageable
  • this measure will ensure that student debt remains manageable for more borrowers, including some middle-income borrowers, and especially those entering the workforce to lower-paying or less stable work before establishing their careers. It would provide borrowers who choose to apply for the benefit with flexibility to manage other life priorities (for example, buying a home, starting a family, etc.), as they begin their careers post-study
  • this measure will build on other enhancements to make student debt manageable, such as interest-free and payment-free leave for up to 18 months for borrowers who take a temporary leave from their studies for parental or medical reasons, including mental health. It will also complement proposed changes to permanently eliminate the accrual of interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans

18. New parents, repayment of federal student loans

Commitment text: Allow new parents to pause repayment of their federal student loans until their youngest child reaches the age of 5.

Progress to date

  • the Government is committed to ensuring that post-secondary education is affordable and student debt is manageable, including for parents of young children
  • on October 1, 2020, the Government of Canada introduced interest-free and payment-free leave for up to 18 months for Canada Student Loan borrowers who take a temporary leave from their studies for parental or medical reasons, including mental health
  • in addition, Budget 2021 committed to increasing the repayment assistance threshold from $25,000 to $40,000 for a single borrower (and higher for larger family sizes), indexing the thresholds to inflation, and lowering the cap on loan payments to 10% of a borrower's family income. Further, in December 2021, the Government committed to further enhancing the Repayment Assistance Plan (see related mandate commitment). Once implemented, these changes will provide support to a greater number of borrowers with children

Next steps

  • significant analytical work and consultation with provinces, territories, and service delivery partners will be required to advance this commitment, particularly in light of the changes to repayment assistance currently underway
  • a range of options is being considered to advance this commitment in a way that complements other program changes, while ensuring that new parents with outstanding student loans have the supports they need

19. Maximum debt forgiveness for doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses in rural and remote areas

Commitment text: Increase by 50% the maximum debt forgiveness for which family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners and nurses who work in rural or remote areas are eligible under the Canada Student Loans Forgiveness program, expand the current list of eligible professionals and undertake a review to ensure that rural communities are fully eligible in order to improve access to health care and social services in rural communities.

Progress to date

  • a formal evaluation of the existing benefit is underway, which will inform the way forward
  • work is also underway to prepare the foundational elements of an extensive consultation process that will involve engagement with a broad range of actors, including:
    • provincial and territorial authorities responsible for healthcare, education, rural development and student financial assistance,
    • rural and remote municipalities, advocacy organizations, professional organizations, and post-secondary education student associations, and
    • the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program’s third party service provider, to discuss possible systems changes, as well as with post-secondary education students

Next steps

  • the information gathered through the evaluation and the consultative process will inform the policy development and analysis to deliver on this commitment
  • legislative and regulatory amendments would be required before finalizing implementation details and timelines

Responsive points

If pressed on this measure and the Government’s action:

  • the Government of Canada is committed to improving access to health care and social services in rural communities
  • currently, the Government offers loan forgiveness to eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses who work in under-served rural or remote communities. In 2019 to 2020, $24 million of Canada Student Loans were forgiven for almost 5,500 individuals through this initiative

20. Transition to a low carbon economy

Commitment text: To support the future and livelihood of workers and their communities in the transition to a low carbon economy: Support the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Labour in moving forward with legislation and comprehensive action to achieve a Just Transition, guided by consultations with workers, unions, Indigenous Peoples, employers, communities, and provinces and territories.

Progress to date

  • last July, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Labour launched an engagement process asking Canadians how the Government of Canada can ensure a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon future for workers and their communities
  • an important part of this effort will be the ongoing consultations with workers, unions, Indigenous Peoples, employers, communities, and provinces and territories

Next steps

My department will continue to support consultations led by Natural Resources Canada on achieving a Just Transition.

21. Clean Jobs Training Centre

Commitment text: Launch a Clean Jobs Training Centre to help workers across sectors upgrade or gain new skills so as to be on the leading edge of the zero carbon industry.

Progress to date

  • the clean economy is projected to grow faster than the rest of the economy over the next decade. A skilled workforce is essential to realizing Canada’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Shortages of workers with the right set of skills and qualifications are expected in key sectors
  • that is why the Government of Canada has committed to launch a Clean Jobs Training Centre in the near future. It will help workers across key sectors and occupations improve or gain new skills in order to be on the leading edge of the zero carbon economy

Next steps

The Department is starting early engagement with stakeholders and other government departments.

22. Canada Training Benefit

Commitment text: Redesign and implement the Canada Training Benefit.

Progress to date

My department is in the early stages of determining an approach for redesign and implementation of the Canada Training Benefit.

Next steps

Over the coming months, my department will undertake engagement with provinces, territories and stakeholders, such as working adults, education and training providers, career counsellors and employers. This will help inform the advice brought forward is responsive to diverse needs.

Responsive points

If pressed on why there is a need for redesign:

  • following the Budget 2019 announcement of the Canada Training Benefit, ESDC undertook consultations with provinces, territories, and stakeholders
  • consultations revealed broad support for offsetting training costs and general recognition that training is underfunded by governments and employers
  • however, a number of shortcomings from the initial proposal were identified, such as many working adults with training needs would likely not qualify for EI (e.g., part time workers, gig workers). In addition, given the impact of COVID-19, it is important to re-assess the proposed approach to be responsive to evolving needs

23. Sustainable battery industry opportunities

Commitment text: Address gaps in training and upskilling to ensure that all Canadian workers can take advantage of sustainable battery industry opportunities.

Progress to date

  • we are in the preliminary stages of internal review to determine possible approaches to deliver on this mandate commitment
  • interdepartmental consultations with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Clean Growth Hub, and Transport Canada are underway
  • the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program launched solicited and open Calls for Proposals on January 31, 2022. Organizations working in the clean energy sector are represented in the solicited Call for Proposals. This process may yield projects in support of this commitment

Next steps

  • consultations with industry stakeholders will follow in coordination with other departments
  • we anticipate launching projects as early as summer 2022 under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, which may include projects that support this mandate commitment

Responsive points

If pressed on the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program:

  • we will be distributing new program investments through solicited and open Calls for Proposals
  • successful proposals will focus on addressing workforce challenges in the clean economy, healthcare, and sectors hard-hit by the pandemic and crucial to economic recovery
  • we expect that a number of projects, including those that support clean energy commitments, could be launched by summer 2022

24. Double the Union Training and Innovation Program

Commitment text: Double the Union Training and Innovation Program to support more apprenticeship training opportunities and partnerships in the Red Seal trades across Canada, and target greater participation from more diverse populations, including women, Indigenous people, newcomers, persons with disabilities, and Black and racialized Canadians.

Progress to date

My department is developing options for the implementation of this commitment.

Next steps

Once this commitment is implemented, a Call for Proposals will be launched.

Responsive points

If pressed on engagement with unions:

ESDC undertook extensive engagement with stakeholders, including unions, to support the implementation of the Union Training and Innovation Program. As part of the Program’s ongoing work, Department officials will continue to engage with apprenticeship stakeholders.

25. Canadian Apprenticeship Service

Commitment text: Continue to advance the Canadian Apprenticeship Service in partnership with provinces, territories, employers and unions so that Red Seal apprentices have sufficient work experience opportunities, including with small and medium-sized employers, to finish their training on time and find well-paying jobs.

Progress to date

A Call for Proposals seeking organizations – such as provinces, territories, employers and unions – interested in delivering the Apprenticeship Service to employers, closed in September 2021 and proposals are currently being assessed.

Next steps

  • I will approve projects from the Call for Proposals and establish funding agreements with recipients. It is anticipated that funding will start to flow to recipients this spring.
  • over the coming months, funding recipients will launch their projects, and small and medium-sized employers will be able to begin to apply for support to hire first-year apprentices across 39 construction and/or manufacturing Red Seal trades

Responsive points

If pressed on the implementation of the Apprenticeship Service:

The Government of Canada is committed to helping apprentices get the experience they need to work in the skilled trades. Projects under the Apprenticeship Service are expected to start this sping. At that time, information on how employers can apply for the supports from organizations will be made available.

26. National campaign to promote skilled trades

Commitment text: Continue to support the work of the national campaign to promote the skilled trades as first choice careers for young people and diverse populations.

Progress to date

The national campaign to promote skilled trades was launched in January 2022. It includes marketing products, as well as an advertising campaign.

Next steps

  • the national campaign to promote skilled trades will continue until the end of the month
  • over the coming weeks, my Department will monitor the results of the campaign, evaluate its impact and determine next steps

Responsive points

If pressed on the 2019 mandate commitment to help Canadians get the skills they need for good quality jobs, and that will develop measures that maximize labour force participation:

  • the bilateral Workforce Development Agreements and Labour Market Development Agreements are the Government of Canada’s largest investment in training. Each year, more than $3 billion is provided through these transfers to support more than a million individuals and employers get the training and employment supports they need to succeed
  • during the pandemic, the Government of Canada provided an additional $1.5 billion in supports under the Labour Market Development Agreements and Workforce Development Agreements. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than half a million individuals received labour market supports under the Labour Market Development Agreements and Workforce Development Agreements while receiving CERB or CRB. This meant that those individuals were ready to participate in the labour market, contributing to economic recovery as public health restrictions eased
  • the federal government will continue to work with provinces and territories on implementation of the labour market transfer agreements

27. Trusted Employer System

Commitment text: With the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, establish a Trusted Employer system for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers and, as part of improving the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, simplify permit renewals, uphold the 2-week processing time and establish an employer hotline. Continue to work with provinces, territories and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition.

Progress to date

  • an interdepartmental working group has been established between ESDC/Service Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food officials to support the Trusted Employer System design
  • the department is also engaged in informal conversations with employers and employer associations to get their views on a Trusted Employer System
  • work is also underway to ensure that Global Talent Stream service standards continue to be met, given increasing application volumes
  • a Global Talent Stream contact line for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is already in place
  • my department collaborates on an on-going basis with provinces and territories, as well as with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Health Canada to understand their needs and priorities, benefit from their expertise, and share best practices

Next steps

  • my department will be examining how best to support the design and implementation of a Trusted Employer System
  • we will also continue working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on the policy details for the Trusted Employer System
  • engagement with provinces and territories will also take place, including with Quebec on Trusted Employer System for implementation in accordance with the Canada-Quebec Accord

Responsive points

If pressed on worker protection:

  • the Temporary Foreign Worker Program aims to ensure the rights of temporary foreign workers are protected, while striking a balance between timely access to temporary foreign workers and protecting the labour market for domestic job seekers

If pressed on service delivery:

  • the Trusted Employer System will streamline service delivery for return employers that have met a high standard with respect to Temporary Foreign Worker Program

28. Foreign credential recognition

Commitment text: Continue to work with provinces, territories and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition.

Progress to date

  • the Foreign Credential Recognition Program currently has several active projects with provinces, territories and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition
  • for example, the Program is providing funding to the Government of New Brunswick to test innovative ways to recruit, bridge, and employ internationally educated nurses, and support them in obtaining licensure as nurses in New Brunswick

Next steps

Continue to implement projects that improve foreign credential recognition processes and continue to actively engage provinces, territories and stakeholders to share information and best practices.

29. Sector-based work permits

Commitment text: With the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, implement sector-based work permits and strengthen the inspection regime to ensure the health and safety of temporary foreign workers.

Progress to date

My department is working with Agriculture and Agri-food to assess how best to support the design and implementation of possible program measures, including to create a new sector-based work permit, and we are taking concrete actions to support and strengthen the employer compliance regime, including inspections.

Next steps

  • my department intends to engage with stakeholders on the design and implementation of measures that include a new sector-based work permit. Efforts will be made to use stakeholder forums such as ministerial roundtables
  • we have already taken steps to improve the quality and timeliness of our inspections, reduce backlogs, and increase resources to strengthen inspection processes and operations
  • while these improvements are important, we know more work is required to address systematic issues that impact the Program. That is why ESDC is rebuilding the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s employer compliance regime

Responsive points

If pressed on inspections:

  • the health and safety of temporary foreign workers is of the utmost importance to me, my colleagues, and the Government of Canada. Like every worker in Canada, they deserve to be safe in their workplaces
  • we are committed to increasing awareness of program conditions with employers to better protect temporary foreign workers, and improving the quality and timeliness of our inspections of employers to ensure temporary foreign workers have appropriate working conditions and wages

30. Sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy

Commitment text: Support the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in developing a sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy to address persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing in the short and long term.

Progress to date

  • my department is working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to identify a path forward to address the Agricultural sector’s chronic labour shortages
  • the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program launched solicited and open Calls for Proposals on January 31, 2022. The Agriculture sector is represented in the solicited Call for Proposals, and should yield projects in support of this commitment

Next steps

  • we will continue to work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to advance this important work
  • we anticipate launching projects as early as summer 2022 under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, which may include projects that support this mandate commitment

Responsive points

If pressed on the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program:

  • on January 31, 2022, I launched the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
  • successful proposals will focus on addressing workforce challenges in the clean economy, healthcare, and sectors hard-hit by the pandemic and crucial to economic recovery, such as agriculture
  • we expect that a number of projects could be launched by summer 2022

If pressed on labour shortages:

  • the agriculture sector is an important part of our economy and Temporary Foreign Workers play a vital role. We are committed to working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on a whole of Government approach to addressing the labour shortages

31. Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, wrap-around supports

Commitment text: Make it easier for women and vulnerable groups to access training by requiring businesses supported through the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program to include wrap-around supports.

Progress to date

  • the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program is well positioned to fund training projects that will include wrap-around supports for those facing barriers to participation. This could include, for example, accommodation, transportation and childcare costs, as well as expenses related to specialized services, arrangements or equipment
  • the Program launched Calls for Proposals on January 31, 2022, which included parameters requiring project applicants to provide wrap-around supports, as needed to those facing barriers to participating in training initiatives. Particularly, for women and equity-deserving groups
  • for the purposes of the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, equity-deserving groups include women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, racialized Canadians or visible minorities, newcomers and members of the LGBTQ2 community

Next steps

We anticipate launching projects as early as summer 2022 under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, which will include wrap-around supports for training participants.

Responsive points

If pressed on Calls for Proposals:

  • on January 31, 2022, I launched the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
  • successful projects that offer training to individuals will be required to provide wrap-around supports
  • we expect that projects will be launched by summer 2022

32. GBA Plus

Commitment text: Support the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth in the evaluation process of GBA Plus with the goal of enhancing the framing and parameters of this analytical tool, and with particular attention to the intersectional analysis of race, indigeneity, rurality, disability and sexual identity, among other characteristics.

Progress to date

  • in order to improve Gender and Diversity Outcomes in Skills Programs (a Budget 2019 measure), my department has developed and is implementing a GBA Plus Strategy
  • the Strategy supports the integration of intersectional analysis through various capacity building activities to enable departmental staff to have the analytical capacity to incorporate GBA Plus in all stages of the development and implementation and continual improvement of skills programs

Next steps

Going forward, my department will work with Women and Gender Equality Canada to implement a new suite of GBA+ tools, and support the integration of intersectional analysis in ESDC’s policies and programs by providing training, partnering on projects and knowledge sharing.

Status of previous mandate letter commitments

Response lines

If pressed on the status of commitments from the previous mandate:

  • over the past 2 years, we collectively faced a once-in-a-century crisis. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has taken strong, immediate and effective actions to support all Canadians
  • in the fall of 2021, Canadians made a democratic choice and entrusted this Government with finishing the fight against COVID-19 and to support the recovery of a strong middle class, and this Government is working hard to do just that
  • my current mandate letter commitments reflect the bold, concrete actions needed to build a healthier, more resilient future, and this Government intends to deliver on these priorities

Support workers whose work has been interrupted by public health measures:

  • the pandemic’s significant impacts on the labour market have resulted in unprecedented support to workers and families who have lost employment, particularly for vulnerable groups or workers in highly-impacted industries. As part of this ongoing support, we introduced the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit in October 2021 to help workers impacted by regional pandemic health measures

Build a better, more inclusive employment insurance system:

  • as we have seen since March 2020, the pandemic has led to an unparalleled reliance on the employment insurance program, while at the same time exposing limitations in its design. To resolve these shortcomings, we are moving forward with efforts to build a stronger and more inclusive EI system that is more responsive and flexible to the evolving needs of Canadian workers

Build Back Better by Supporting Students and Adult Learners:

  • in spite of the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, we have been moving forward on commitments to ensure that students who choose to invest in post-secondary education receive the financial support they need, including by permanently eliminating interest and increasing the repayment assistance threshold on federal student loans
  • the pandemic has accelerated many changes that were already underway in the labour market and it will be increasingly important to ensure that Canadians have the skills needed to access future jobs, especially in key emerging industries, such as the clean economy. This is especially important as 75% of new jobs in Canada from 2019 to 2028 are expected to require a high-level of skills. We are redesigning the Canada Training Benefit to ensure that Canadians acquire skills for in-demand jobs coming out of the pandemic, and we will provide training for in-demand sectors through the creation of a Clean Jobs Training Centre and a national campaign to support the skilled trades

Advance Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan:

  • progress has been made on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and other measures to ensure that Persons with Disabilities encounter fewer barriers and are able to participate fully in the labour market and society. Additional measures are also being implemented to improve accessibility and ensure Canadians with disabilities receive the support they need. For instance, as part of the Action Plan, we will launch an Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities developed in consultation with disability organizations and other stakeholders

4. Main estimates tracker

Full title: Main estimates tracker for the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. - Appearance before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates - House of Commons - March 24, 2022

Table 1: ESDC 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates – Summary
Number Line item 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates (in $ million) Variance from previous year (in $ million)
1 Vote 1 – Operating expenditures 1,078.0 1.1
2 Vote 5 – Grants and contributions 10,319.3 7,211.7
3 Statutory 76,007.1 -2,248.1
4 Total Budgetary 87,404.4 4,964.7
5 Non-Budgetary Statutory -205.6 -1,162.8

Note: The Estimates do not include charges against the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Employment Insurance (EI) accounts for program benefits, $57.2 billion and $24.8 billion respectively, or for operating expenditures to administer the CPP or EI programs, $464.1 million and $1.5 billion respectively.

5. Questions and Answers (Qs and As)

Full title: Questions and Answers for the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. Appearance before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) – 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates - House of Commons - March 24, 2022

Q1. Why is the 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates Vote 1 (Operating Expenditures) authority $1.1 million higher than the 2021 to 2022 Main Estimates?

A1. The net increase of $1.1 million in Vote 1 is mainly attributable to the following items:

Table 2: Vote 1 – Operating expenditures
Vote 1 – Operating expenditures in $ million
Benefits Delivery Modernization 86.9
Comprehensive Training to Drive Recovery 20.8
Early Learning and Child Care 13.9
Reaching All Canadians 11.8
Other Items 6.1
Technical Debt Remediation – Stabilization of IT to support program delivery -11.8
Transfer of Reaching Home to Infrastructure Canada -22.0
CERB/CESB Integrity and Administration -104.6
Total variance 1.1

Q.2 Why is the 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates Vote 5 (Grants and Contributions) authority $7,211.7 million higher than the 2021 to 2022 Main Estimates?

A.2 The net increase of $7,211.7 in Vote 5 is mainly attributable to the following items:

Table 3: Vote 5 – Grants and contributions
Vote 5 – Grants and contributions in $ million
Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative 5,186.3
One-time payments to GIS recipients who received pandemic benefits 740.0
Social Development Partnerships Program (including the Community Services Recovery Fund) 390.5
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program 330.7
Apprenticeship Service Program 213.6
Skills for Success 140.9
CERB/CESB 136.3
Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy 132.8
Enabling Accessibility Fund 57.4
Supports for Student Learning Program 46.8
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities 21.3
Temporary Foreign Workers 18.6
Other Items 12.5
Transfer of Reaching Home to Infrastructure Canada -216.0
Total variance 7,211.7

Q.3 Why is the 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates Budgetary Statutory forecast $2,248.1 million less than the 2021 to 2022 Main Estimates?

A.3 The net decrease of $2,248.1 million in budgetary statutory forecast is mainly attributable to the following items:

Table 4: Budgetary statutory forecasts
Budgetary statutory forecasts in $ million
Old Age Security Payments 5,158.5
Canada Student Grants 1,534.4
Guaranteed Income Supplement Payments 801.2
Canada Student Loans – Direct Financing 78.5
Canada Education Savings Grants 70.0
Service Delivery Partnerships with OGDs (Dept of ESD Act) 28.6
Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit 17.8
Other Items -18.9
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit -2,281.1
Canada Recovery Benefit -3,430.0
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit -4,207.1
Total Variance 2,248.1

Q.4 Why are the 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates Total Budgetary authorities $4,964.7 million higher than Main Estimates 2021 to 2022?

A.4 The net increase of $4,964.7 million in total planned budgetary expenditures is primarily attributable to voted grants and contributions (Vote 5) and statutory items. The most significant items being:

  • an increase of $5,186.3 million for Early Learning and Child Care bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, and work with Indigenous partners,
  • an increase of $5,959.7 million to the Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement forecasts, and
  • an increase of $1,612.9 million to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program forecasts
  • these are offset by a decrease of $9,918.2 million for the 3 statutory temporary recovery benefits: the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit

Q.5 Why is the 2022 to 23 Main Estimates Non-Budgetary Statutory forecast $1,162.8 million less than the 2021 to 2022 Main Estimates?

A.5 The net decrease of $1,162.8 million non-budgetary statutory forecast is attributable to the following items:

Canada Student Loans

There is a net decrease of $1,155.1 million from the previous year Main Estimates, mainly since the temporary COVID-19 measure, which brought the limit on Canada Student Loans from $210 to $350 per week, ended July 2021. In addition, the expected net disbursement is estimated to be negative as loan repayments have resumed while loan disbursements have decreased.  Note that negative net disbursements are atypical and are expected to be temporary.

Canada Apprentice Loans

The net decrease of $7.7 million from previous year Main Estimates represents a decrease in disbursements of new loans and an increase of anticipated repayments.

Q.6 Why are Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) planned spending excluded from ESDC’s Main Estimates?

A.6 EI and CPP planned spending is excluded from ESDC’s Main Estimates because they are not voted by Parliament. These items are included in the Departmental Plan (planned gross spending) to provide readers with the full cost of the Department’s programs and services and present a complete picture of the resources managed by the Department to deliver its mandate.

Table 5: 2022 to 2023 Main Estimates vs Departmental plan
2022 to 2023 Main Estimates vs Departmental plan in $ million
Vote 1 – Operating expenditures 1,078.0
Vote 5 – Grants and contributions 10,319.3
Statutory 76,007.1
2022 to 2023 Main Estimates total budgetary (planned net spending) 87,404.4
EI administrative costs 1,510.4
CPP administrative costs 464.1
Other recoveries 0.9
2022 to 2023 Main Estimates planned gross spending 89,379.8
EI benefits 24,768.4
CPP benefits 57,244.6
Other EI and CPP charges and recoveries 2,531.7
Other 13.8
2022 to 2023 Departmental Plan planned spending 173,938.3

6. Committee profile (March 2022)

Official title: House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) - Committee Profile (March 2022)

Table of contents

HUMA Membership

Chad Collins (LPC)

Michael Coteau (LPC)

Wayne Long (LPC)

Soraya Martinez Ferrada (LPC)

Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey (LPC)

Tony Van Bynen (LPC)

Marilyn Gladu (CPC)

Ron Liepert (CPC)

Stephanie Kusie (CPC)

Alex Ruff (CPC)

Bonita Zarrillo (NDP)

Louise Chabot (BQ)

Liberal party of Canada

  • Chad Collins, Ontario
  • Michael Coteau, Ontario
  • Wayne Long, New Brunswick
  • Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Québec, PS for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing)
  • Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey, Prince Edward Island
  • Tony Van Bynen, Ontario

Conservative party of Canada

  • Marilyn Gladu, Ontario
  • Ron Liepert, Alberta
  • Stephanie Kusie, Alberta, Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Critic
  • Alex Ruff, Ontario

New democratic party of Canada

  • Bonita Zarrillo, British Columbia, Disability Inclusion Critic

Bloc Québécois

  • Louise Chabot, Québec, Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic

Committee members biography (header not included in original binder)

Chad Collins Liberal Party Hamilton East—Stoney Creek - Ontario

Brief biography

Chad Collins was first elected to the House of Commons for Hamilton East - Stoney Creek on September 20, 2021. A lifelong resident of Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, Chad resides in the Davis Creek area with his wife Mary and 2 children, Chase and Reese. He attended Glendale Secondary School, the University of Western Ontario, and McMaster University. Chad was first elected to City Council in 1995, at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest elected representatives in the City's history.

Chad is passionate about engaging local residents and community stakeholders, focusing on revitalization of infrastructure, development of social housing and stream-lining municipal programs.

As President of City Housing Hamilton, Chad has been committed to addressing the City's aging affordable housing stock by pressuring all levels of government to invest in the much needed repair of over 7,000 publicly owned units. He continues to work on nearly a dozen new projects across the City and in the riding that will provide new affordable housing units to those in need.

From the creation and development of new community parks and trails to the opening of a new food bank, Chad knows community consultation is an integral part of improving quality of life for everyone in Hamilton East - Stoney Creek.

Of note:

  • Key issues of interest:
    • affordable housing

Michael Coteau Liberal Party Don Valley East – Ontario

Brief biography

Michael Coteau was first elected to the House of Commons for Don Valley East on September 20, 2021. He has served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East since 2011. During his time in the Ontario government, his ministerial roles include: Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Prior to entering the provincial government, Michael was elected as a school board trustee for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2003, 2006 and 2010. As a trustee, Michael advocated for student nutrition, community use of space and the use of educational technology. He initiated the ‘Community Use of Schools’ motion that drastically cut user fees and made schools more accessible to groups that offer programs for children. He helped introduce nutritional changes in schools that supported healthy food programs and increased awareness of student hunger.

Michael worked as an ESL instructor and curriculum developer before becoming a community organizer for a United Way agency in Scarborough. He was also the Marketing Manager for ABC Life Literacy, where he was responsible for the organizing of the Family Literacy Day across Canada, and was Executive Director of Alpha Plus, a national literacy organization mandated to support adult education through the use of technology.

Michael grew up in Don Valley East and attended Don Mills Middle School and Victoria Park Collegiate Institute. He holds a degree from Carleton University in Political Science and Canadian History. He and his wife Lori live in Toronto with their 2 daughters, Maren and Myla.

Of note:

  • spent 10 years in the Ontario legislature
  • key issues of interest:
    • low-income families

Wayne Long Liberal Party Saint John — Rothesay - New Brunswick

Brief biography

Wayne Long was first elected to the House of Commons for Saint John — Rothesay in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He is a member of the Saint John community with national and international business experience. Wayne currently serves as President of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and his efforts have helped turn the team into one of Canada’s most successful CHL hockey franchises winning the cherished Memorial Cup in 2011. That same year, Wayne was recognized with the John Horman Trophy, awarded to the Top Executive in the QMJHL.

Prior to his work with the Sea Dogs, Wayne was President of Scotiaview Seafood Inc. He was also a successful large-scale product manager with Stolt Sea Farm Inc. Wayne’s work has seen him travel across North America, negotiating contracts with national restaurant distributors, restaurant chains, and retail chains. He earned the North American Excellence in Sales and Marketing award twice. Wayne is a former Board Member for Destination Marketing and Salmon Marketing.

Wayne was born in the riding, and currently calls the area home alongside his wife, Denise, and their 2 children, Khristian and Konnor

Of note:

  • has been a member of HUMA since the beginning of the 42nd Parliament (2015)
  • key issues of interest:
    • poverty
    • mental health
    • outspoken support of the Energy East oil pipeline project
    • previously broken ranks with party (Energy East, tax policy, SNC-Lavalin) which resulted in being kicked off House committees as punishment
    • frequently makes sports parallel (hockey)
    • government programs and support that benefit his constituents

Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Party PS for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing) Hochelaga – Québec

Brief biography

Soraya Martinez Ferrada was first elected to the House of Commons for Hochelaga in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in 20219 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport in 2021. She has also served on the Standing Committee on Official Languages in the last Parliament.

She is a proud resident of the east end of Montréal. Originally from Chile, her family settled in the area in the 1980s. Soraya has deep roots in the community where she currently resides with her son and daughter.

Before being elected, Soraya worked for more than 20 years in the community where she specialized in communications and developed multiple cultural and political projects. Among her achievements, she created the very first cultural and socio-professional integration program at TOHU, a unique example of sustainable development in Montréal.

In 2005, she was elected as a city councillor and appointed by the mayor to the position of Associate Advisor for Culture on the City’s Executive Committee. In 2009, she became Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition at Montréal City Hall. She transitioned to the federal government in 2015 as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

She created the Vedette d’Hochelaga video clips in which she highlights the commitment of citizens, community organizations, and entrepreneurs in the riding of Hochelaga.  She has also set up virtual roundtables and regular newsletters that present federal programs directly serving the people of her riding.

Of note:

Parliamentary Secretary – Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing)

  • Key issues of interest:
    • poverty
    • Quebec-focused
    • multiculturalism

Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey Liberal Party Egmont Prince Edward Island

Brief biography

In 2015, Bobby was elected to the House of Commons and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He served as a Member on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, as well as the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Previously, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly in 1982 and has dedicated his career and volunteer life to serving the residents of PEI.

Having served as MLA for nearly 20 years, Bobby has a deep understanding of his communities’ needs. He has held a number of high-profile roles within the Assembly, such as Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Opposition House Leader. He was also responsible for the redevelopment of the Canadian Forces Base Summerside and the surrounding community following its closure by the federal government in 1989. Bobby left politics in 2000 to join the private sector as a consultant specializing in government relations, fisheries, and the labour market. Bobby has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of PEI. He was the founding member and former president of the Tignish Seniors Home Care Co-op, and Vice-Chair of Tignish Special Needs Housing.

Of note:

  • Chair of HUMA
  • former member of HUMA in 2019 (briefly before the general election)

Tony Van Bynen Liberal Party Newmarket — Aurora – Ontario

Brief biography

Tony Van Bynen was first elected to the House of Commons for Newmarket-Aurora in 2019 and re-elected 2021. A resident of Newmarket for over 40 years, Tony and his wife Roxanne raised their 2 daughters there.

Community service, volunteerism, and helping those who need it most is what drives Tony every day. He and Roxanne have volunteered at the Southlake Hospital, and the Inn from the Cold, for over 10 years. They also deliver food for the Newmarket Food Bank, and Tony was instrumental in creating Belinda’s Place, which is a multi-purpose facility for homeless and at-risk women.

He also had the privilege of serving as the Mayor of Newmarket for 12 years. During that time, community building is what guided Tony on his mission to revitalize Main Street, renew the historic Old Town Hall, and build the Riverwalk Commons so families and friends can enjoy great public places.

Through his previous role as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and his 30-year career in banking, Tony understands what local businesses need to thrive and grow. He’s delivered innovative solutions to help local business owners find success, including creating the Envi broadband network, so businesses in the community have ultra-high-speed connectivity, which has been particularly crucial during the pandemic.

Of Note:

  • Key issues of interest:
    • focused studies to help Canadians, especially getting through the pandemic

Marilyn Gladu Conservative Party Sarnia—Lambton Ontario

Brief Biography

Marilyn Gladu was re-elected to the 44th Parliament on Sept. 20, 2021 for her third term as Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton. In 2020, under the new Conservative Party leadership of MP Erin O'Toole, Marilyn Gladu was named to the new Conservative Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for FedDev Southern Ontario and Privy Council Critic. She also won the "Most Collegial Parliamentarian Award" again in 2020, for the year of 2019.

As the Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton in 2015, Ms. Gladu received the MacLean’s award as “Most Collegial Parliamentarian” as voted by the other members of Parliament. She served as the Official Opposition Science Critic, as well as the Chair for the Status of Women. She has served as the Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Rail Caucus, in addition to the Vice-Chair of the Aerospace Caucus. She has also served as the Shadow Minister of Health, and the Vice Chair on the Standing Committee on Health. As one of the most respected leading members of the current Parliament, she works cooperatively and respectfully with her parliamentary peers.

Marilyn Gladu is a professional engineer by trade, who worked for Dow Chemical for 21 years in a variety of roles locally and globally. She then became Engineering Manager and subsequently the Director of Engineering at Suncor before taking a consultant role at WorleyParsons.

As a consultant, she has managed construction and commissioning teams, a team of over 100 engineers supporting the Shell refinery, and served as North American Business Director for petrochemicals and refining. She was recently named as a prestigious “Fellow” by the Canadian Academy of Engineers.

A special moment in her early political career would be that her private members bill, C-277 (on palliative care) received unanimous consent of the House of Commons and Senate. By achieving Royal Assent, her palliative care bill will now make a positive difference in the lives of millions of Canadians choosing to live as well as they can, for as long as they can.

Of note:

  • also member of Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR)
  • former Chair of Standing Committee on Status of Women (FEWO) in the 43rd Parliament

Ron Liepert Conservative Party Calgary Signal Hill Alberta

Brief Biography

In 2014, Ron Liepert ran for the Conservative Party of Canada nomination in the newly created riding of Calgary Signal Hill. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015 and was appointed by the Leader of the Opposition as the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance, a role he remained in for 2 years.

Having previously served as the Premier’s press secretary from 1980 to 1985, Ron participated in a number of federal-provincial conferences, and was at the side of the Premier during the Constitutional Accord of 1982 and the energy negotiations of the early 1980s. Ron then accepted the position of Trade Director of Western U.S. Operations in Los Angeles for Alberta Economic Development, from 1986 to 1991.

In 1991, Ron joined Telus and was involved on the teams which completed the purchase of ED TEL and the BC TEL merger. He was also part of the rebranding team from AGT to Telus. From 2000 to 2004 he ran a public relations/communications consulting business and operated a childcare centre in downtown Calgary.

Returning to politics in 2004, Ron sought and won the provincial riding of Calgary-West. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 2004 to 2012 where he served as Minister of Education, Minister of Health, Minister of Energy, and finally Minister of Finance. As Minister of Education Ron negotiated a 5 year labour agreement with the Alberta Teachers Association and resolved the longstanding unfunded pension liability issue.

As Minister of Energy for the province, Ron led the competitiveness review of the oil and gas industry which addressed issues with Alberta’s royalty structure. He began the process of streamlining the regulatory process which resulted in the creation of the single regulator for oil and gas. During his term as Energy minister the province also negotiated the contract which will see the first heavy oil upgrader constructed under the province’s Bitumen Royalty-In-Kind program.

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Party Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Critic Calgary Midnapore – Alberta

Brief biography

First elected as a federal Member of Parliament in 2017, Stephanie Kusie served as the Official Opposition Deputy Shadow Minister for Health. In September 2018, she took over the position of Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Democratic Institutions.

In 2018 Stephanie accepted invitations to become a member of both the Trilateral Commission and the board of CANZUK International. She was also elected to the Executive Committee of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas Interparliamentary Association and remains so to this day.

Following the fall 2019 general election, she served as the Shadow Minister for Families, Children, and Social Development, a role she held until September of 2020, when incoming Conservative Party Leader, Erin O’Toole, appointed her as the Shadow Minister for Transport in his new Shadow Cabinet.

Stephanie was born and raised in the community of Calgary Midnapore and attended the “Calgary School” within the University of Calgary, where she earned a degree in political science. Stephanie went on to obtain her Masters in Business Administration in Strategic Management from Rutgers University, where she won their Graduate School of Management Case Competition in 2000.

As a diplomat for the Canadian federal government, Stephanie served in the watch office from 2004 to 2005 assisting Canadians in distress, had a temporary duty in Argentina in 2006, was chargée d’affaires and Consul for Canada in El Salvador from 2006 to 2008, and Consul for Canada at the Consulate in Dallas, Texas from 2010 to 2013. She also served as policy advisor to the Honourable Minister Peter Kent during his time as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the Americas in the Harper Administration in 2009.

From 2014 to 2016, Stephanie served as the Executive Director of Common Sense Calgary, a non-profit organization dedicated to lowering civic taxes. She also served as the Alberta South Chair of Equal Voice, a national lobby organization focussed on electing more women to all levels of political office.

Stephanie has been published in the Calgary Sun, the Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal and the National Post.

Stephanie speaks English, French, and Spanish fluently, and enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband James and their son Edward.

Of note:

  • Critic – Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion in Erin O’Toole’s shadow cabinet
  • previously a member of HUMA and Families, Children, and Social Development critic from 2019 to 2020 - key issues of interest during that time
    • home equity tax
    • economic recovery plan in general but also for youth
    • negative impacts of CERB (fraud, youth initiatives, small businesses, etc.) and confusion between EI and CERB
    • foreign workers and Foreign Credential Recognition
    • housing continuum, home ownership and homelessness
    • Canada Child Benefit for high income earners
    • labour force trends
    • income security, RRSP and mandatory RRIF withdrawal
    • long-term care homes for seniors
    • Service Canada wait times and overall services to Canadians
  • in December 2021, Ms. Kusie co-signed a letter, along with CPC Raquel Dancho, Public Safety critic, and Pierre Paul-Hus, Public Services and Procurement critic, addressed to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Minister of Public Safety regarding a street gang in Montreal fraudulently obtained taxpayer dollars via the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to purchase illegal firearms.
  • key issues of interest in this Parliament:
    • labour shortage
    • supply chain issues
    • inflation rates

Alex Ruff Conservative Party Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound Ontario

Brief biography

Alex Ruff was first elected as Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. He served on the Veterans Affairs Committee from 2019 to 2020 until being appointed as the Opposition Deputy Whip in September 2020. He grew up on a farm just outside Tara and understands the unique issues facing a rural riding. He attended Chesley District High School (CDHS) and spent his summers farming and lifeguarding at the Tara Pool.

With multiple postings across Canada, he has developed an appreciation for the vast diversity and challenges that face everyday Canadians. Alex has always maintained his deep connections to the local community through his involvement with the Tara Legion and local community events. He frequently speaks to schools across the region, attends local Remembrance Day events and has even opened the Desboro Fall Fair.

In 1997, Alex graduated from Royal Military College with an Honours Bachelors of Space Science degree, and subsequently went on to command troops as an infantry officer in The Royal Canadian Regiment. He has extensive experience with 6 operational deployments including the 1998 ice storm in Eastern Ontario and Quebec, 2 in Bosnia, 2 in Afghanistan and most recently in Iraq. From his 2007 combat deployment to Afghanistan, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General due to his "outstanding leadership...in defeating a determined enemy."

His final military posting was in Baghdad, Iraq, as a key leader in the international efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists in the region before he returned home in January 2019 to run for federal politics.

Alex believes that politicians represent the people who elected them, first and foremost.

Of note:

  • spent 25-plus years in the military
  • would insist that procedures are observed during committee proceedings

Bonita Zarrillo New Democratic Party Disability Inclusion Critic Port Moody—Coquitlam British Columbia

Brief biography

Bonita Zarrillo was first elected as Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Coquitlam in 2021. She is known to be a voice for equality and drives systemic change that puts people first. She entered public service so she could advocate for working people and to support the needs of the most vulnerable in the community. She championed buy-local as a tool for small businesses to thrive and to enable them to hire locally, challenged pipeline corporations to pay their fair share, and completed a successful housing affordability strategy that generated the most rental housing starts in her region.

On Coquitlam Council, Bonita served on the following: Fraser Health Municipal Government Advisory Council, Multiculturism Advisory Committee, Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee, Universal Access Ability Advisory Committee, and past Board Member for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She sat on the board of 2 local Not-For-Profits that advocate for gender equality and speaks regularly at The Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.

Before being elected to municipal government, Bonita worked in consumer products as a Business Analyst for companies across North America and Europe. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Manitoba, a Human Resource Management Certificate from the University of Calgary and has a Computer Science Degree from CDI Montreal.

Of note:

  • critic – Disability Inclusion
  • pledged to help Canadians through collaborative committee work
  • key issues of interest:
    • mental health and suicide prevention
    • women’s issues and gender equality
    • workers’ conditions

Louise Chabot Bloc Québecois Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic Thérèse-De Blainville - Quebec

Brief biography

Louise Chabot was first elected as Member of Parliament in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. She was born in 1955 in Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, is a Quebec trade unionist and politician. She was president of the Centrale des Syndicates du Québec (CSQ) from 2012 to 2018. The organization initially represented nearly 200,000 members, including 130,000 in the education and early childhood sector. She coordinated a major unionization project that resulted in the consolidation of more than 15,000 family day care managers, a first in the union world in Canada.

Of note:

  • Critic – Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic
  • sponsored the Committee’s study on the Review of the EI Program in 2021, critical of the EI program in general and very outspoken about seasonal workers’ trou noir and inadequate sickness benefits
  • interested in seniors’ financial security and their purchasing power
  • seek to enact federal anti-scab legislation
  • supporter of labour unions – Former president of Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
  • member of the consultative committee for Quebec’s Pay Equity Commission
  • advocate for increase in health transfers
  • respect for provincial jurisdictions
  • labour shortages
  • nurse by profession

7. Critics for Employment and Social Development Canada

Conservative Party of Canada

  • Stephanie Kusie (HUMA Member): Critic for Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
  • Scott Aitchison: Labour
  • Laila Goodridge: Families, Children and Social Development
  • Shelby Kramp-Neuman: Seniors
  • Karen Vecchio: Women and Gender Equality and Youth

New Democratic Party of Canada

  • Bonita Zarrillo (HUMA Member): Disability and Inclusion, Infrastructure and Communities, and Deputy Critic for Health
  • Daniel Blaikie: Finance and Employment and Workforce Development
  • Rachel Blaney: Seniors
  • Alexandre Boulerice: Deputy Leader and Labour
  • Leah Gazan: Families, Children and Social Development

Bloc Québécois

  • Louise Chabot (HUMA Member): Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
  • Sylvie Bérubé: Families, children and social development
  • Andréanne Larouche: Seniors, Status of Women, Gender Equality
  • Kristina Michaud: Climate change, youth, public safety and emergency preparedness
  • Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné: Public Accounts and Pandemic programs

Critic biographies (header not included in original document)

Stephanie Kusie (Alberta, Calgary Midnapore) CPC Critic: Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Topic and context

Skills training on automation

Employment workforce

Platform

HUMA study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member asked about programs and incentives for skills development and for businesses to learn more about automation. She also asked about employment workforce statistics in relation to the pandemic, seeking an accurate reflection of the 106% current employment rate.

Topic and context

Labour shortage

Platform

House of Commons

Adjournment Proceedings

Date

February 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

“On November 25, I asked the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion for information relative to a BDC report that found that 64% of companies said that they had difficulty finding workers, and this was limiting their growth. RBC also reported that over one-third of businesses were having problems at that time finding employees, resulting in 870,000 vacancies across Canada. Of course, businesses need workers to make money. Therefore, what was the minister doing in an effort to resolve these labour shortages?”

“This actually feels like a small problem today compared to what we have had to deal with since that time. We have incredible instability in the nation at this time as a result of the poor leadership by this government and by the Prime Ministrer at the helm. Unfortunately, the reality is that life goes on outside the Parliamentary Precinct. I am very happy that the situations at the borders have been cleared up. The problem still exists here in Ottawa, but the reality is that life goes on outside the precinct. The labour shortage still exists.”

“Unfortunately, this is the problem with this government. There are a number of serious problems that we should be dealing with as a government and as a nation as a whole, rather than dealing with these unfortunate, unnecessary distractions, which become significant problems as a result of the lack of leadership. I think of things that are relevant to the labour shortage, such as inflation, which of course was announced this week to be 5.1%. It is a historic number, in a bad way, when inflation is over 5%. The Finance Minister stands up time and time again and talks about 4.5% GDP growth. That is just not important to average Canadians who have to buy groceries and heat their homes.”

“This leads me to the next problem that this government ignores, apart from the continuing large problem, and that is the cost of living. We have seen time and time again members of the government in the House who cannot name the price of a whole chicken and cannot name the price of bacon.”

“I have to say that we see this inability to face problems also replicated within the numbers that government members provide. They talked about 1 million jobs in the pandemic recovery. Well, these are just the jobs that were recovered naturally during the pandemic as a result of people going back to their jobs when the economy opened up across this nation. It is a completely insincere number, and we even saw this with the 200,000 jobs lost, which was another failure. They talk about a 106% employment rate. This is also insincere, given that the workforce has shrunk. Seniors have left, individuals have left, so of course we are going to have 106% employment if the workforce has shrunk.”

“We see these problems in different sectors, including agriculture, food processing, retail, hospitality and health care. I have offered solutions, such as eliminating the LMIA and providing a credit for automation, but as with all the other problems, including the most significant one just outside these doors, this government just does not acknowledge them and does not come up with solutions to them.”

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement) and “government errors”

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

“I feel completely obliged and compelled to speak about the matter before us today, Bill C-12 and the reason we are having this debate.”

“When I heard about Bill C-12, it seemed to me that the situation was familiar and I gave it a bit of thought. When the pandemic hit, the government issued a series of benefits: the CERB and the CRB. Lo and behold, unfortunately when the GIS payments were issued there was a necessity to claw them back. This was a result of the government's lack of competency with the administration and overpayment of the CRB and the CERB, by giving funds to those who were not entitled to them. This is no small matter. It affects 90,000 low-income seniors across the country who are struggling to put food on the table and to heat their homes. They certainly do not need this problem at this time.”

“I understand that the government has allocated a large sum of funds to this: around $700 million. Yesterday in the House, it actually released the date on which these low-income seniors could start to see these funds. It is April 19. The Liberals were not willing to release that information to me at committee, so I am glad they have finally come forward with it in the House, and have announced a date when seniors can expect to see these funds. They would not give me a date when I pressed them at committee.”

“As I reflected upon this situation, it occurred to me that this was not the first time we had seen this. In fact, oops, they did it again. Where has this happened before? Where have we seen this lack of administration and competency before? I am going to go all the way back to the beginning of the pandemic and Bill C-2, where we as an opposition tried very hard to work with the government to get Canadians the benefits they deserved.”

“Our current interim Leader of the Opposition was involved in those negotiations, as was the member for Carleton, who was acting in the capacity of shadow minister for finance at the time. He had the good measure to recognize the lack of oversight that was occurring with the government asking for unlimited spending. I am very fortunate that he saw that and pointed it out. What happened after that was that we had to come back to the House and amend Bill C-2 as a result of the government's incompetence and mismanagement again. We saw that the Canada emergency wage subsidy came too late. The Canada emergency commercial rent assistance did not work, because it required the approval of landlords as well as a 70% revenue reduction. As well, not a single business received funds from the government's large employer emergency financing facility. We saw it there with Bill C-2.”

“We saw it again in May of 2020, when the CBC reported that Canadians who did not qualify for CERB were getting it anyway and could face consequences, such as the ones we saw with the GIS, which thank goodness are finally being addressed today.”

“However, it does not end there. We saw it again with maternity benefits, whereby Canadian women who were pregnant could not receive the CERB or the CRB, again as a result of government error and an oversight. We saw the errors of the government once again having a significant impact on Canadians who needed those benefits at that time.”

“I wish I could say it ends there, but it does not. In fact, it goes on to Bill C-24, where we had to come back and close loopholes that allowed international leisure and other non-essential travellers to claim the Canada recovery benefit, but that made individuals required to quarantine or self-isolate under the Quarantine Act during the two-week benefit period ineligible to submit a claim.”

“Do we see the trend here that I am referring to? It is the incompetency of the government again and again. Here we are again with Bill C-12, referring to the errors of the government that deeply impacted Canadians. I wish I could say it ends there. It does not.”

Topic and context

One-time payment to compensate GIS recipients who were impacted by the claw-back

Platform

HUMA Minister Khera on mandate

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member probed the Minister for assurances that the payments would fully reimburse impacted GIS recipients and that the error would not be repeated. She raised the 90.000 low-income seniors who learned of the claw back to GIS payments after the fact, and asked the Minister what date these seniors will receive this one-time payment GIS reimbursement.

She asked how much the payment will be and asked for a guarantee that every penny that was clawed back will be reimbursed to seniors. She asked the Minister if she can guarantee today that seniors will not be taxed again on the reimbursed money, and asked the Minister if she can assure her that work to ensure this type of error never happens again.

Topic and context

Child Care - fee increase cap and inflation

Platform

HUMA Minister Gould on mandate

Date

February 10, 2022

Statements/quotes

“Welcome, Minister. I'm going to continue on the line of questioning that my colleague Madame Goodridge began on the day care initiative. In my conversations with provincial counterparts, one great concern currently is not only the rate of inflation in the nation but the fact that fee increases are capped at 3% per year, while inflation is currently at 5% per year. This concern around the agreement certainly exists in my home province of Alberta. I'm just wondering how you anticipate provinces will deal with the rising operating costs when inflation is at 5% a year and you've capped the increase at 3% a year.”

“Perhaps you could expand on why you did not decide to have the fee increase cap reflect the current inflation rate. As I mentioned, entering these partnerships will leave operators holding the bag for the difference between the capped rate of 3% and whatever inflation continues to be. It doesn't really sound like you're coming from a place of good faith. You're saying that with this rate of inflation, whatever it might be, you don't have good faith that operators, the ones you're entrusting to implement these programs and take care of the nation's children, can provide for them under the capped 3% rate you've indicated.  (Hon. Karina Gould: We are primarily concerned with ensuring that there is good use of public funds. As you're someone who's in the Conservative Party of Canada, I would imagine it's something that's very important for you as well. We want to ensure that the funds we send to provinces and territories are going towards service provision, that they're going to‐ ward high-quality care, that they're going toward paying ECEs fair and appropriate wages. These are all things that are very important for us. We want to ensure that those funds are being put to good use. We've worked very closely with the Government of Alberta. Of course we came to an agreement, an agreement that is good for Alberta and good for families in Alberta.

“Unfortunately, Minister, I don't think your work is done as of yet with Alberta, as there still remains concern over the cost control framework. The agreement with Alberta, fortunately, unlike other provinces, allows for the expansion of these private spaces in cases that Alberta and the federal government have agreed on.”

Topic and context

Service standards for Employment Insurance claims

Platform

HUMA

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

During the HUMA study on Service Standards for Employment Insurance Claims, she addressed the victims of fraud and benefits delayed due to claimants’ frozen Service Canada accounts. She asked why the Ministers are not appearing today, whether the Ministers understand the gravity of the situation, and if Ministers provided directives to solve payment delay problems.

Topic and context

Fraudulent Canada Emergency Response Benefit payments

Platform

Oral Questions

Date

December 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

“It was reported yesterday that street gangs in Montreal defrauded Canadian taxpayers and used the Canadian emergency response benefit in order to buy illegal guns. It's unthinkable that the government is letting this happen. When did the minister learn that money that should have gone to Canadians was used by criminals?”

Topic and context

Calling on the federal government to launch an audit on fraudulent CERB payments

Platform

Letter

  • Raquel Dancho, Pierre Paul-Hus and Stephanie Kusie sent correspondence to Ministers Mendicino and Qualtrough
Date

December 8, 2021

Statements/quotes

Co-signed a letter regarding fraudulently obtained taxpayer dollars via the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to purchase illegal firearms.

“There are a number of questions regarding the issue of CERB being used by gangs to purchase illegal firearms. Were you aware this was taking place? If so, how long were you aware? If you were aware, why did you not take action on this issue sooner?

“Canada's Conservatives are calling for your government to launch a complete and thorough audit of the taxpayer dollars your government provided to criminals in the form of pandemic benefits, and that you make the Auditor General of Canada aware of your findings as their office continues to audit inadequate post-payment verification of the CERB program.”

Topic and context

Labour Shortage - moving the economy from benefits to jobs

Platform

House of Commons Second Reading debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 30, 2021

Statements/quotes

In response to Wayne Long on government programs that basically touched every individual in Canada in some way or another:

  • we went along with the Legislation because despite concerns we knew that’s what Canadians needed at the time
  • it’s time to move our economy from benefits to jobs
  • major vacancies are occurring in sectors such as hospitality, truckers, and nursing
Topic and context

Request for an emergency debate on labour shortages

Platform

House of Commons

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

A request to hold an emergency debate on labour shortages was denied by the Speaker.

Topic and context

Labour shortages

Platform

House of Commons Oral Question to Minister Qualtrough

Date

November 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Sectors across Canada are grappling with labour shortages. A Brach Directors Committee BDC report found that 64% of companies say that difficulties finding workers is limiting their growth. RBC reported that over one-third of businesses are having problems finding employees, resulting in 870,000 vacancies across Canada. Businesses need workers to make money. What is the minister doing to resolve these labour shortages?

Topic and context

GIS claw back.

  • An ATI request was released in November 2021 revealed that thousands of low-income families, seniors who had received CERB or CRB saw a decline in federal aid benefits such as the GIS
Platform

Twitter

Date

November 13, 2021

Statements/quotes

Why should low-income seniors and families have to suffer for the government’s inability to account for pandemic assistance.

Topic and context

Introduction of urgent legislation during the pandemic did not provide for in-depth analysis and study by opposition parties. Opposition parties and the Senate often criticized this practice.

Platform

House of Commons, opposition motion on measures to help Canadian workers

Date

March 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

Unfortunately, we have seen the Liberals repeatedly putting the entire opposition in a very difficult position. Because of their lack of capacity and competence, they come up with last-minute legislation to try to help Canadians, but the result is that, first, there are many gaps for the opposition to address and second, the opposition is forced to support legislation because we really do not want to leave Canadians in a difficult position. If the Liberals had any foresight, any true consideration for Canadians or for the government working together in a team Canada approach, they would be more thoughtful in their consideration of the necessary policies and they would allow the opposition members time to consider and to respond, instead of having to continuously go along with whatever the Liberals cook up in a half-effort attempt to help Canadians.

Topic and context

Pandemic support for seniors

Platform

COVI

Date

May 12, 2020

Statements/quotes

It has been 3 months since this pandemic started and the Liberals just got around to announcing help for seniors. Seniors are a priority and should be treated as such.

Why do the Liberals treat seniors as an afterthought?

Topic and context

COVID-19 and Canada Child Benefit: concerned with the one-time 300$ payment

Platform

COVI

Date

June 3, 2021

Statements/quotes

Canadian families who don't normally qualify for the Canada child benefit received a payment of approximately $300 per child as part of the COVID-19 CCB top-up. When Canadians call Service Canada to report the error and return the benefit, they are being told to donate it to a children's charity if they don't need it. This in fact happened to our colleague Rosemarie Falk, member of Parliament for Battlefords—Lloydminster.

Is the minister aware of this issue?

Topic and context

Moved a Motion for the Production of Papers CERB. The motion was adopted, as amended. Parliament prorogued in August 2020.

Platform

HUMA

Date

June 4, 2020

Statements/quotes

That, in the context of its study of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee send for the following documents to be provided by the Government by Monday, August 31, 2020:

  1. All briefing notes, memorandums, guidance and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020
  2. All briefing notes, memorandums, and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to the eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020
  3. All briefing notes, memorandums, and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to potential fraudulent cases of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020
Topic and context

Study on government’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. The committee did not table a committee report

Platform

HUMA

Date

May 28, 2020

Statements/quotes

You talked a fair bit about facing youth employment and unemployment coming out of COVID-19? What do you think are the major impacts that we'll see on youth unemployment as the economy begins to reopen following COVID-19? What will be the greatest challenges in the new economy?

Topic and context

The Vice-Chair asked about the Government’s decision to provide broad tax-free benefit instead of targeted benefits, specifically about the one-time up to 500$ OAS-GIS benefit provided to seniors.

Prior to the pandemic, media and opposition parties criticized Service Canada wait times. The pandemic saw an increase in wait times.

In 2016, HUMA devoted 5 meetings on the Study: Exploring the Impact of Recent Changes to Employment Insurance and Ways to Improve Access to the Program. The resulting 2016 Committee Report included recommendations on Enhancing Service Delivery. On February 18, 2021, the CPC requested a progress update on select recommendations from the 2016 Report

Statements/quotes

Regarding the one-time increase to OAS and GIS, many seniors receiving these payments aren't struggling financially due to COVID-19, given that seniors can receive OAS with an annual taxable income of up to $128,137. What is the rationale for providing this tax-free benefit so broadly, including to high-income seniors who may not be experiencing financial hardship? Why did you not decide to target low-income seniors at this time, by providing an increase only through GIS payments?

Something that has been of great concern to me is the Service Canada phone system, which has been overwhelmed for months with long wait times and an inability of people to get through. Absolutely, it inadvertently impacts seniors, as, for many, the phone is their only form of communication right now. Since Service Canada centres are closed, it makes it more difficult for seniors; and many seniors, of course, aren't comfortable using the Internet. I'm wondering what you've done to ensure that seniors have received timely access to Service Canada so that they can access the benefits they need.

Topic and context

Study on Government’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Appearance by the Minister for Families, Children and Social Development) on Service Canada wait times and overall services to Canadians.

Platform

HUMA

Date

April 30, 2020

Statements/quotes

Another concern I'm hearing about is that individuals who have previously contacted a member of Parliament's office and then contacted Service Canada are being told that they cannot be serviced by Service Canada as a result of previously having contacted a member of Parliament's office. I want to get assurance from you, Minister, that this is not the case and that any individual, even if they have previously contacted a member of Parliament, can receive service from Service Canada.

Scott Aitchison (Ontario, Parry Sound—Muskoka) CPC Critic: Labour

Topic and context

Skilled trade shortages

Platform

HUMA

Minister O’Regan on mandate letter

Date

February 17, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member asked about skilled trades shortages (A: the Canadian economy is showing signs of recovery, boom in construction has led to labour shortages, we are investing in training), on mandate letter commitment on Labour Mobility Tax Credit, reference to Chris Lewis’ PMB (A: commits to work together to collaborate), rules on longshore workers requiring 8 hours of rest, as opposed to 6 hours (A: Canadians deserve fair rest schedules, new standards are moving ahead, need to improve worker health and safety, mitigating particular risks).

Topic and context

Service Canada

Platform

House of Commons

Statements by Members

Date

February 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, recently a constituent of mine in Parry Sound—Muskoka told me the nightmare she experienced trying to access parental benefits after she spent weeks in SickKids hospital with her newborn. She sent her paperwork for parental benefits to Service Canada in late August 2021. She delivered her baby in September, and only yesterday finally received her benefits. Service Canada officials, at every step of the way, told her that they were overworked and were still learning how to deal with COVID. This was late 2021, 2 years into the pandemic.

In a riding like mine, where many seasonal workers and folks rely on the EI program, the excuse that Service Canada is still learning how to work with COVID is just simply not good enough. At a time when restaurants and businesses are reopening and learning how to live with COVID-19, it is time for the government to do the same and ensure the services delivered to the people who need them are done in a timely fashion.

Topic and context

Sick leave for federally regulated private sector

Rushing legislation through parliament

Platform

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Date

December 8, 2021

Statements/quotes

Madam Speaker, I want to talk about inspiring rhetoric for a second. The minister himself, in his announcement, actually pointed out that the vast majority of federally regulated private sector workers already have more generous paid sick leave programs, and this may not have that massive an impact on those positions in the private sector.

I wonder if, in fact, we are rushing this because the Liberals felt they should have gotten it done before the unnecessary election. They had lots of time to start this process then. I do not understand why we cannot get a little more work done on this now to make sure we can make the amendments we want in order to make it more substantive and so the minister can start his negotiations with the provinces. If it is such a crushing thing, it should have been done before this unnecessary election. I do not understand why we cannot just take a few more days here.

Topic and context

Broadcasting

Platform

Canadian Heritage Committee

Date

June 4th, 2021

Statements/quotes

“I want to thank Mr. Ripley for those final few comments. I automatically thought “cue the lobbyists”, because there are 9 months to try to influence things to make them the way you want them to be.

I actually want to focus specifically on that issue.... In general, it relates, I think, to my problem overall with big government programs. The bigger the government, the more interference and the greater the chance for undue influence. Mr. Waugh quite capably raised that issue. I actually want to ask the question of Mr. Manly, specifically, because he has some experience with the system as it exists today. I have absolutely zero experience with the traditional broadcasting realm.

If I could start with this question, I'm curious to know, Mr. Manly, in the process of trying to get recognized as Canadian content in the traditional system, were you aware of situations where high-paid lobbyists were clearly able to get their client's product broadcast somewhere, ahead of a smaller operation like yours?”

Topic and context

Bill C-30

Platform

Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1 Government Orders

Date

May 25th, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Madam Speaker, over the course of the debate on Bill C-30, there have been many points of view shared. Many of my colleagues on this side of the House have justifiably raised concerns about the deficits and levels of debt the current government is accumulating, and the impact this debt will have on Canadians for generations to come. They have skilfully illustrated that, despite the Minister of Finance's description of her budget as a plan for jobs, growth and resilience, it falls dreadfully short of a real plan for economic growth that will create jobs for Canadians.”

“While all of these issues are important and have yet to be addressed by the government, I intend to focus my comments particularly on what would appear to be the centrepiece of this budget for the Minister of Finance: a national child care program. There can be no doubt that access to affordable child care and early childhood education is a wise investment in our economy and can help ensure all Canadians are able to realize their full potential in the workforce. Personally, I believe a system designed to respect the choices of parents in the best child care options for them makes more sense than a massive government program, which, by the way, would cost $30 billion over the next 5 years, then roughly $9 billion annually thereafter. This proposal highlights yet another example of the federal government making a commitment in an area of provincial jurisdiction without the corresponding commitment of dollars needed to fund a program that most provinces simply cannot afford.”

“This budget is a buffet of spending, paid for with massive debts and designed to perpetuate the government's promises of being all things to all people. The government is not only ignoring the financial struggles of the provinces, struggles created in part by federal interference, budget 2021 seeks to push the provinces even further into debt.

We need a real plan that manages public debt and invests strategically to stimulate real economic growth that will create jobs. We need a plan that will restore fiscal balance to our Confederation. Restoring that balance will better prepare the federal treasury to manage the impending fiscal problems, grow our economy and build a stronger and more prosperous Canada.”

Topic and context

Telecommunications

Platform

House of Commons – Debates

Dates

April 27th, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Mr. Speaker, in what began as a mediocre attempt at legislation to level the playing field between Internet streaming giants and traditional Canadian broadcasters, the Minister of Canadian Heritage assured us that Bill C-10 was not some draconian tool of the state to limit Canadian freedom of expression on the Internet. He actually promised that his legislation was not interested in such things as when his great-uncle posts pictures of his cats.

In the original bill, there were exemptions to protect the freedoms of Canadians posting their online content, yet just the other day the minister ordered the section removed. The minister muses about granting himself the power to remove Internet content that he deems objectionable, and now he is granting authority to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to control what Canadians post online.”

Laila Goodridge (Alberta, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake) CPC Critic: Families, Children and Social Development

Topic and context

Child Care

  • spaces created
  • agreements signed
  • training of educators
Platform

HUMA

Minister Gould on mandate

Date

February 10, 2022

Statements/quotes

Attending as a non-member at HUMA, asked the Minister about the 3,300 spaces for Indigenous child care she touched on. “What work has actually been done, and have any agreements been signed? How many spaces have been created since these agreements were signed, you said 3,300 but how many have been created as of today in the child care deals across the provinces? When will the agreements be made public?”

“1 of the questions I frequently hear from constituents is, what's going to happen after the 5-year mark? We're spending money creating these spaces, but that's only for the first 5 years. What's going to happen on year 6?” The Minister assured there would be funding beyond year 5.

“Furthermore, the mandate letter states that your aim is to have 40,000 new child care educators. What is being done to train these educators, and how many have been trained to date.”

“My big thing, and you've heard this be‐ fore, is that a lot of people are concerned about the day care deals because this is a promise that has been made and broken for decades by Liberal governments. How can we be assured that this will actually come into play?”

Topic and context

Families and the Economy

Platform

Twitter

Date

Twitter January 20, 2022

Statements/quotes

Families and seniors are falling behind and they see the Trudeau government doing nothing to give them a break.

Canadians deserve a government focussed on getting our economy back on track.

#JustinFlation

Topic and context

Families and the Economy

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 16, 2021

Statements/quotes

Canadian families are already being pushed to the limit and are having a hard time making ends meet. Inflation is at 4.7%, the highest level since 1991, and the prime minister doesn't consider monetary policy a priority. When will the prime minister take the time to think about monetary policy?

Topic and context

Inflation and child care

Platform

House of Commons - adjournment proceedings

Date

December 6, 2021

Statements/quotes

Not only does a child care deal not kick in for about 5 years, according to the government's own plans, it is completely separate from the issue of inflation. Yes, child care costs are high, but it is not why the cost of gas, home heating, groceries, diapers and pretty much everything else is going up faster than it probably should be. In fact, I would expect that the rising prices across the entire economy will probably get worse as government spending continues to increase.

Quite frankly, child care providers will have additional costs put on them if inflation continues to increase. They have to buy groceries for the children. They have to heat their facilities. There are many additional expenditures that will go onto those child care providers, and I am very curious how they will make ends meet.

Lowering child care costs is incredibly important for families that have children in need of care, but let us face some very important facts that this is a very small percentage of the population. It will not help people who have no children or families that have older children. It will not help seniors. It will not help the family with the stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home dad. It will not help a family that works shift work whose children need overnight care.

So many families are being left behind by those answers, and I really do want to hear what the government is doing with the very real issue that is inflation. Families are coming to me and sharing their concerns about making ends meet this month.

While it is wonderful to hear that some plans are in place to help some families, this does not help the senior down the street who is really struggling with the fact that groceries have gone up in price exponentially in the last little while. It does not help the families that are struggling today. Therefore, I really want to hear an answer from the government on how it plans to address this very real concern around inflation.

Topic and context

Child care and inflation

Support for families

Platform

House of Commons

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

As a new mom, I'm very well aware how expensive having a baby can be. And the cost of many items like diapers are getting more expensive under this liberal government. Ever increasing inflation is making life more expensive, from gas to groceries and everything in between. When will the prime minister recognize the inflation crisis and help the many families that are struggling today?

Topic and context

Child care and inflation

Support for families

Platform

House of Commons

Date

November 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Universal child care is a promise that's been made and broken by liberals since I was in grade school. So forgive me for not necessarily trusting this liberal government. The cost of necessary everyday items like diapers and formula are all rising. Affordability is a priority for many working families but so is feeding their children and keeping the heat on. Will the prime minister at least acknowledge these massive increases to the cost of living are being caused by your government's policies?

Topic and context

Child care

Platform

Fort McMurray Today: Vincent McDermott

Date

November 10, 2021

Statement/Quotes

“Canada’s Conservatives understand that as the workforce changes, our approach to this file must also adapt to be better able to support working families,” Goodridge said in a statement upon her appointment as Critic for Families, Children and Social Development.

“A big-government, one-size-fits-all approach leaves far too many families on the sidelines. This is especially the case in rural communities, with shift-work families, gig economy workers, entrepreneurs and many others.”

Goodridge’s appointment comes 8 months after the federal government unveiled a $30-billion, 5-year plan to create $10-per-day early learning and child care across Canada. During the election, O’Toole pitched replacing the program with refundable tax credits. Benefits would be based on family income. For instance, low-income families would be refunded for 75% of child care costs up to $6,000 per child. Money would be paid out during the year so families would not have to wait until the end of the year for a refund.

Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have yet to make agreements with Ottawa. Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s children’s services minister, has said the province wants a deal recognizing Alberta’s large percentage of for-profit care centres. Any deal must also respect diversity of choice for child care, she has said.

Topic and context

CPC commitments related to families, children and social development

Platform

CPC Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Convert the child care expense deduction into a refundable tax credit covering up to 75% of the cost of child care for lower income families. This will increase the support that lower income families receive by thousands of dollars per year and provide more assistance to almost all families. We promise to also pay out the deduction over the course of the year so that families do not have to pay the cost of childcare and then get the money back later.

Expand the Canada Child Benefit by allowing benefits to begin at the 7th month of pregnancy rather than at childbirth.

Support parents by allowing those on maternity and parental leave to earn up to $1,000 per month to enable them to stay connected to the workforce and ease their return to work.

Support parents who have experienced the trauma of miscarriage by allowing them to receive 3 days of paid bereavement leave.

Ensure that EI parental is extended for at least 8 weeks following the death of an infant, and up to 8 weeks of paid leave from employment in the event of a child’s death or stillbirth.

Create a National Adoption Strategy, including an awareness campaign to promote adoption, and work with the provinces to ensure equal access to adoption for all children. This will include:

  • supporting international adoption by working with other countries to align processes, speeding and easing the adoption process,
  • creating an Employment Insurance benefit for adoptive parents, modelled on Employment Insurance maternity benefits, and
  • increasing the maximum a parent can claim under the Adoption Expense Tax Credit from $15,000 to $20,000 and making the credit refundable

Immediately launch a Credential Recognition Task Force to develop new timely and appropriate credential recognition strategies. One area this task force will study is credential pre-qualification – allowing people in other countries to acquire Canadian-standard proficiency through accredited institutions overseas or distance learning with Canadian institutions.

Supporting parents through more generous maternity and parental leave by allowing those on maternity and parental leave to earn up to $1,000 per month to enable them to stay connected to the workforce and ease their return to work.

To help families and help our hard-hit retail stores recover, will implement a month-long GST holiday this fall. All purchases made at retail stores will be tax free for this month.

Double the Canada Workers Benefit up to a maximum of $2,800 for individuals or $5,000 for families and pay it as a quarterly direct deposit rather than a tax refund at year-end. This will put an average of an extra $1000 into the pockets of the most vulnerable workers, helping 3.5 million families put food on the table

Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Ontario, Hastings—Lennox and Addington) CPC Critic: Seniors

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to speak tonight to the first piece of legislation in my portfolio. This legislation would amend the calculation formula for determining benefits payable under the act by deducting the amount received under 3 COVID-19 benefit acts and a portion of the Employment Insurance Act from a person's income for the year, starting in 2022. While I am thrilled that the government is taking action on this and highlighting its swift willingness to have the backs of Canadians, allow me tonight to speak to the unnecessary delay. This is not a piece of legislation that, in my opinion, the government members should be patting themselves on the back for. This, sadly, is a result of an error that should have and could have been acknowledged and remedied months ago.

I would like to acknowledge the work of the minister on this file. To her credit, she continues to show a willingness to act on this, albeit not as quickly as we would have liked, and more importantly, not as quickly as our seniors needed. As a result of the government's poor rollout of the CRB, scores of seniors have found themselves destitute after they were stripped of OAS and GIS payments through no fault of their own. It seemed as though there were continuous empty platitudes with no timely and clearly communicated solutions.

…… When ministers are called before committees, they have a document prepared for them. It briefs them on topics that may be raised. These binders are available for anyone to read.

In May 2020, the then Minister of Seniors appeared before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. As is standard practice, the minister was prepared a binder by department officials. In that binder, in section 7, under the heading “Questions and answers—COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and businesses”, and under “Interaction with CERB and GIS”, the following question appears: “Will income from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit be used in the calculation of Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits?” The answer is as follows:

It is considered to be taxable income and must be considered when determining entitlement to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowances.

This being said, this will not affect the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowances for about a year. Income received...in 2020 will only affect GIS and Allowances benefit amounts beginning in July 2021, as those benefits will be based on 2020 income.

This is a verbatim quote from our government, from their own briefing binders, proving that the government was aware of this for at least 21 months and chose not to act. Flags had been raised and tens of thousands of seniors have been affected.

Topic and context
  • supports for seniors
  • guaranteed Income Support claw back
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

Inflation, coupled with the government's clawback have financially crippled many of Canada's hard working seniors, forced to spend their golden years in a labour market just to make ends meet. Our vulnerable seniors need to know that Ottawa is listening. That is why the conservative opposition called on the government to reversals the Canada Pension Plan tax hike. Mr. Speaker, when will this government stand up, rise up, lean in to Canada's hard working seniors and help them meet.

Topic and context
  • elder abuse
  • call for legislation to protect seniors
  • guaranteed Income Support claw back
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 3, 2021

Statements/quotes

Elder abuse manifests itself in many forms. Financial, emotional, mental and physical abuse is rampant against Canadian seniors and it is only increasing. In the last Parliament, this House unanimously agreed to M-203. Among other things, this Conservative-led initiative calls for legislation to combat seniors fraud. This was over 2 years ago. When will this government take meaningful action and introduce legislation to protect Canadian seniors?

Madam Speaker, last week I rose in this place to ask the government when they were going to rectify their Guaranteed Income Support claw back that is currently crippling vulnerable seniors. The Deputy Prime Minister, in the process of deflecting the question, Canada one-time payment of $500 as some sort of compensation. Our seniors are losing up to 9 times that amount because of this clawback. I ask again: When will this government show compassion and step up? Our seniors need it, and they deserve it.

Topic and context

Guaranteed Income Support claw back

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

Canada’s aging population has been the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in almost every conceivable metric. Instead of providing the compassion, empathy and support that the seniors who built our country deserve, the Liberal government has sadly penalized Canada’s seniors who took Canada Emergency Response Benefit by lowering their old age security payments.

Could the minister please tell me when the government will rectify this cruel decision and allow our seniors to collect what they have earned and give them the dignity they deserve?

Topic and context

Priorities for new role as shadow minister for seniors, fixing Canada’s long-term care health system being among her top priorities

Platform

Napanee Beaver

Date

November 10, 2021

Statements/quotes

“COVID-19 to be honest has been devastating for all Canadians but seniors, to be more specific, the government has fallen short of our long-term care system. We have such an aged population. Coming from financial services I can recognize that Canadians are living longer and there’s a shortage of long-term care beds. That’s something I think is really important that the federal government has a responsibility to work collaboratively and support provinces in their efforts because it is definitely a relationship there. Fixing the long-term care system is huge, there are concerns with the GIC eligibility. With so many seniors collecting CERB, it was a financial lifeline for them. That has to be addressed. I think the question of helping seniors stay in their homes, that’s another area. There’s so many areas whether it’s additional support for personal support workers and just protecting people’s pensions.”

“I have full intent to take the partisan hat off and approach the Minister of Seniors and work across the board with my colleagues, with the Liberal minister and see how we can move forward with this because seniors is not a political agenda.”

Topic and context
  • support for vulnerable seniors
  • extend the Old Age Security increase to seniors aged 65-74
Platform

Twitter

Date

November 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

“I’m excited to build on the work of Rosemarie Falk”

Falk introduced the motion to study the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors, which was adopted by the HUMA on February 2, 2021. The committee examined measures announced in Budget 2021, in particular, the increase in Old Age Security (OAS) for those 75 and older, which has sustained interest on this Topic and context from all parties. In particular, opposition parties are advocating for an increase in OAS to extend to those aged 65-74. The Conservatives have accused the Government of manipulating seniors before an election by offering them $500. Ms. Falk questioned the use of OAS instead of GIS to increase financial support for seniors. The committee’s last meeting with witnesses was held on June 22, 2021. The committee did not release (or perhaps complete) its report before the election was called.

During the HUMA study, Ms. Falk also advocated for a need to stabilize the Long Term Care (LTC) sector, including the protection of personal support workers, recruitment and training, and the need for the government to change its perspective with respect to the value of providing more support and services to enable seniors to live longer in their homes.

Falk took an interest in the issue of seniors and elder abuse, and the $400 M budget funding to create a temporary Community Services Recovery Fund. She questioned when widows and widowers can expect an increased CPP survivors benefit as promised by the Government in 2019.

Topic and context

CPC commitments related to seniors

Platform

CPC Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Double the direct federal investments in palliative care, noting that the Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association has estimated that under 30% of Canadians who need it have access to palliative care services.

Amend the Criminal Code provisions on failing to provide the necessities of life to make clear that the operator of a licensed care facility shall be presumed to have a legal duty to the residents of that facility.

Help seniors stay in their own Homes by:

  • amending the Home Accessibility Tax Credit by increasing the limit from $10,000 per dwelling to $10,000 per person
  • allowing seniors or their caregivers, including their children, to claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit for home care instead of only allowing them to claim attendant care if they live in a group home
  • introduce a Canada Seniors Care Benefit that pays $200 per month per household to any Canadian who is living with and taking care of a parent over the age of 70

Invite the provinces to help develop best practices for Long-Term Care homes, such as the National Building Code, which would provide guidance for provinces without intruding on their jurisdiction. Meanwhile the party would help seniors receive the care they need by:

  • devoting $3 billion of infrastructure funding over the next 3 years to renovate LTC homes in all provinces and territories to improve the care that residents receive, and encourage partnerships with private non-profits that have historically provided a significant amount of LTC
  • boosting the Number of Personal Support Workers
  • providing priority in immigration programs to those who can work in LTC or homecare
  • promoting these careers through immigration and refugee settlement programs

Make work pay for our seniors by doubling the Canada Workers Benefit up to a maximum of $2,800 for individuals or $5,000 for families and pay it as a quarterly direct deposit rather than a tax refund at year-end. This will help seniors who choose to continue working past retirement and it will provide a $1/hour raise for low-income seniors including many who choose to work part-time to supplement their retirement income.

Better protect pensions by:

  • changing legislation to ensure that pensioners have priority over corporate elites in bankruptcy or restructuring
  • preventing executives from paying themselves bonuses while managing a company going through restructuring if the pension plan is not fully funded
  • no longer forcing underfunded pension plans from being converted to annuities, something that currently locks in losses and results in workers getting less money
  • requiring companies to report the funding status of their pension plans more clearly

Karen Vecchio (Ontario, Elgin—Middlesex—London) CPC Critic: Women and Gender Equality and Youth

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (GIS)

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, I am so glad to be in the House today to talk about this important motion. We are talking about the guaranteed income supplement and what we need to do to ensure that seniors can make it through life in Canada right now…..

……I want to go back to looking at why people get the guaranteed income supplement in the first place. These are our seniors who are over the age of 65 and are not making enough money to pay their bills. They are looking for a little extra because the cost of living continues to rise. They are, in many case, on fixed incomes. They may have some annuities and they may have things like that. Many times they know that, at the end of the month, on the third day, on the last business day of the month, they are going to receive their old age security, their CPP and the top-up of their GIS, if they are low-income.

I know at the beginning of this pandemic, like all of the members in the House, we had phone calls from everybody. There were phone calls coming from small businesses. There were parents calling, who needed to go to work and there was no place to put their child. There were a lot of things happening at that time. It was important that we worked along with the government to find resolutions and to find solutions for seniors who were having a very difficult time and for people across the country who were having a very difficult time.

Just last year, of course, the government continued to talk about how they gave every senior $500. Well, it was great, because on behalf of my campaign, I would like to thank the many people who said they did not need that money. This was a universal input. They said they did not need the money and they gave it to my campaign or gave it to charities.

However, what is important here is that there are seniors who, from cheque to cheque, from month to month, know what their incomes are going to be but they do not know what to expect from their costs. A lot of this comes from the cost of inflation…

…..I would like to say to the government that of course I am going to support the change to the GIS. Of course, I supported these things coming out, but the government should have fixed it last year. Please get back on track so the future generation is not lost like the Liberals have don to this generation.

Topic and context
  • Seniors Financial Security
  • GIS
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

December 16, 2021

Statements/quotes

We know that low-income seniors are really falling behind financially. What does my colleague suggests with regards to the GIS and what this government can do?

Topic and context

Support for youth and health

Platform

Oral Questions

Date

December 13, 2021

Statements/quotes

Canada’s youth are in the middle of a mental health crisis. Fewer that half of youth survey respondents now report excellent or very good mental health. That is down 20% from pre-pandemic days. Increased substance use and heightened anxiety are on the rise for youth struggling with their mental health. We need to reverse this trend.

What concrete steps is the government takin g to uplift our youth and put them back on track for success.

Topic and context

Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Platform

House of Commons

Date

December 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

Voted in favour of passing Bill C-3 at second reading debate in the House of Commons.

Topic and context
  • housing Supply and Cost
  • inflation
Platform

House of Commons

Date

December 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

Spoke on the following Opposition Motion on housing supply:

That, given that,

  1. the government has failed to increase the housing supply in Canada
  2. the government's $400 billion of new spending has produced a surge of inflationary pressure that has driven home prices more than 30% above pre-pandemic levels

the House call on the government to:

  1. review and consolidate all federal real estate and properties in Canada in order to make at least 15% available for residential development
  2. ban foreign investors from purchasing Canadian real estate, and
  3. commit to never introducing a capital gains tax on the sale of primary residences

“I am going to refer back to the motion. When we talk about giving up some of the federal assets so we can build land, we are talking about, sometimes, open spaces. I think of my own downtown in St. Thomas. It is about 2 kilometres long. We know that there are a lot of offices. We know that there are a lot of private and government spaces that could be used for housing.”

“We know that one of the top barriers is inflation. Before I finish, I will say that we have an issue. It is not just a housing crisis, but it is also the inflationary issue. If people are going to be putting money into their RRSPs so they can save money, the cost of living needs to be reduced. Therefore, I am asking the government to please step forward and help the next generation.”

Topic and context
  • Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code
  • extending Sickness Benefits to federally regulated employees
Platform

House of Commons Second Reading Debate

Date

December 6, 2021

Statements/quotes

“I am going to quickly switch gears and talk about the other part of this, about extending health benefits for sick days to federally regulated employees. Here in Canada we have approximately 910,000 federally regulated employees, and the majority of them are here in our government. We know that there are 18,000 employers whose labour rights and responsibilities are defined by the Canada Labour Code, and these types of organizations include our Crown corporations, Canada Post operations, port service, marine shipping, ferries, tunnels, canals, bridges and pipelines.”

“I think it is very important, as we saw through this pandemic, that when we are sick we have the ability to take time off. It is very important that when we are looking at this we understand that, if somebody is sick, they do not go to work. We do need to have some sort of backup plan. I know in many of the federal government policies that there is time and space for that, but for others, not so much. I think it is a great opportunity to have this discussion.”

Topic and context

CERB

Platform

Twitter

Date

November 15, 2021

Statements/quotes

I am hearing everyday about affordability, border regulations, immigration inquiries, GIS cut due to CERB….Let’s get back to work for Canadians. #CPC

Topic and context

Education

Platform

House of Commons Second Reading debate

Date

October 8, 2020

Statements/quotes

Spoke on Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code.

“…when I was a member of the status of women committee, one of the things we discussed was how we could improve the lives of young women and girls, as well as the young boys who have also been affected by sexual assault. One of the things we looked at was education…what we should do when it comes to the education system and the education of our youth in respect to young women and girls...how we can teach empowerment and at what levels we should work at that. To me, the core of the issue has to start through education”

Bonita Zarrillo (British Columbia, Port Moody—Coquitlam) NDP Critic: Disability and Inclusion, Infrastructure and Communities, and Deputy Critic for Health

Topic and context
  • strategy for women, youth with disabilities and under represented workers
  • disaggregated data on programs – PSWs, youth, labour market
  • pay equity
  • care economy commission
Platform

HUMA study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Gender in the workplace: Are there federal strategies for women, youth with disabilities and under represented workers?

Is there disaggregated data collected on these programs? For those that work with personal support workers are having a hard time finding workers due to housing prices, is there data around youth, the labour market and housing? Is there additional disaggregated data on the difficulty of keeping skilled workers due to problematic working conditions and the gendering of work?

Pay equity, immigrant and minorities hold lower wages. What tools does the government have to help with the pay gap.

What kind of disaggregated data is collected and what is the fastest business type right now? Women of colour make up a large portion of Canada’s overburdened and underpaid workers, could you talk about what the rising violence looks like towards nurses and workers in the care economy? In regards to the care economy commission, could you speak to what should be addressed? Expand on the need for care economy commission.

Topic and context
  • gendered disaggregated data on 10 days paid sick leave
  • gender-based analysis on vaccine requirement data
Platform

HUMA

Min O’Regan on mandate

Date

February 17, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member asked if there will be disaggregated data (gendered)

On 10 days paid sick leave. (A: The collective agreements need to be adjusted and employer systems need to be updated.)

On free menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces (A: They are essential products, looking to amend regulations, consultations report is available online)

Was there consultation on toilet paper being added to regulations (A: unknown), Will there be a gender-based analysis on vaccine requirement data (A: Yes).

Topic and context
  • bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act
  • lack of planning that led to outdated IT systems delaying payments to GIS recipients impacted by the claw back
  • national strategy for seniors
Platform

HUMA

Min Khera on mandate

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member commented on lack of planning that led to the antiquated IT infrastructure. She asked what MPs can do collectively over the next couple of weeks to get the GIS one-time payments out before May. The Minister spoke the fix in Bill C-12 that would prevent this from happening again. Mr. Groen spoke about the challenge with the delivery some of which has to do with technology. There is a plan to replace it (Benefits Delivery Modernization). The project underway. She explained that it also coincides with tax season, and the renewal period for the GIS, adding that the government is doing everything it can to advance the one-time payment as soon as possible.

She asked if we will see National Seniors Strategy in budget and if the Minister agrees that there is need for it given all the findings of COVIC-19. She asked the Minister if GBA is considered when working with seniors, noting that LGBTQ2 is often missed in supports, so she would like to get an understanding of the expert panel and what it would look like.

Topic and context

One-time payment to compensate GIS recipients who were impacted by claw back

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, can I get clarity from the Member on when the first payments will go out to seniors, based on this Bill?

Topic and context
  • mental health supports for children and youth
  • national Food Program
  • community Service Recovery Fund
Platform

HUMA

Min Gould on mandate

Date

February 10, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Member asked about the plan for children and youth plan with respect to working with other ministries. She sought assurance that mental health supports are accessible to children and youth given that it’s provincial jurisdiction for the service delivery and that there are multiple Ministers who have this in their mandate letters.

She asked about the availability of these supports in rural communities, how disaggregated data is being collected and if there are any learning to date on the impacts on children and youth on their mental health. The Minister said she would defer to Minister Bennet who is leading. Minister Gould addressed her work with her on the development of the strategy and hoping to get out to speak to children across the country.

On the timing of the national food program and the roll-out of its operations, the Member asked about community partners and reaching outside of schools to reach children who need meals.

She requested more information on the advancement of the service recovery fund, including information on the timing and operating funds.

“I'm going to ask som questions around the implementation of the community services recovery fund. I'll start by saying that “urgency” was definitely the keyword over the last 2 years in my community. We have relied very heavily on small, agile and vital not-for-profits and charities in my community to get food onto people's tables.

Could I get some more information about the part of the mandate letter that says, “Advance the implementation of the Community Services Recovery Fund”? What does that look like and what's the timing?”

“There are a couple of things, but I'm just going to ask specifically about operating funds. I think the biggest thing that has been missing for some of these organizations is operating funds. I want to preface this by saying that the NDP would rather see taxation increased, especially among the wealthiest people in Canada, so that we wouldn't have to rely so heavily on community groups. We love to see community groups out in the community surviving and being able to plan ahead, so operating funds are a big piece. Is that part of this fund or that RFP, or is this strictly to distribute funds?”

Topic and context

Care Economy

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-8Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021

Date

February 4, 2022

Statements/quotes

The member spoke today on health care. Yesterday, I took a study request to HUMA about the care economy. I am hopeful that the Conservatives will support recommendations that come out of that study in the future. I anticipate that there will be an ask for new investments highlighted that we require for health care.

HUMA Motion: “That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the labour shortages and workers’ conditions within the entirety of the Canadian economy, including but not limited to the care economy, including health care workers, personal support workers and child care workers who had been in the front line of covid-19, to examine how the Government, in collaboration with provinces and territories, could improve working conditions in the care economy, that committee proceed to an overview on the impact of labour shortages in the Canadian workforce on the first meeting of the study, that the committee invite the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, experts and departmental officials to testify, that the committee hold at least 6 meetings, that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House, and that pursuant to Standing Order 109 the government table a comprehensive report.

Topic and context

Care Economy

Platform

House of Commons Reply to the STFT

Date

February 1, 2022

Statements/quotes

Would my colleague endorse a greater support for the care economy as a way to deal with the labour shortages, such as through more supports for daycare and through health transfers?

Topic and context

Guaranteed Livable Income

Platform

House of Commons Reply to the STFT

Date

February 1, 2022

Statements/quotes

Salaries must increase in Canada.

The employment rate for people living with disabilities fell from 24.8% all the way down to 13% at one point during this pandemic. We need to protect the income of our most vulnerable workers and would the member support a guaranteed liveable income for Canadians, starting with people with disabilities?

Topic and context

Service Standards for EI Claims

Platform

HUMA

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

During the HUMA study on Service Standards for Employment Insurance Claims, Ms. Zarrillo enquired about victims waiting over the 4-week service standard time and if there is a unique liaison phone number where the claimants can reach out to.

She also asked about the dedicated teams addressing integrity issues and whether there are proactive educational material on identity fraud for constituents.

Topic and context
  • affordable Housing
  • support for people living with Disabilities
  • GIS claw back
  • CRB extension
  • 10 days paid sick leave
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19.

Date

November 29, 2021

Statements/quotes

I stand for affordable housing. Too much housing stock has been redeveloped into luxury condos, and the federal government has not invested enough to keep and build co-operative and non-market housing.

I stand for people living with disabilities. People living on provincial and federal disability payments were already struggling before the pandemic, and it has gotten worse.

We can work together to build a better Canada for all, and repair the eroded safety nets.

The government cut support for almost 9,000 Canadians and began clawing back GIS and the child tax benefit.

When you factor in the cuts to CRB and the claws back to GIS and CCB, the only options for too many people will be to seek help from already stretched food bank charities.

What workers need now is the extension of the CRB to $500 per week.

I talked on enhancements to C-2 and the gaps. We cannot send workers to work if they are sick, we need these 10 paid sick days for workers.

Topic and context

NDP commitments related to disability and inclusion

Platform

NDP Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Uphold the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and strengthen the Accessibility Act to cover all federal agencies equally, with the power to make and enforce accessibility standards in a timely manner.

Expand income security programs to ensure Canadians living with a disability have a guaranteed livable income. While the Liberal government spends years talking about a new federal disability benefit, New Democrats will get to work immediately to deliver it.

For Canadians facing a serious illness, we’ll make EI work better by extending sickness benefits to 50 weeks of coverage, and creating a pilot project to allow workers with episodic disabilities to access benefits as they need them.

Canadians living with disabilities shouldn’t need to worry about the cost of prescription medication, dental work, how to find housing, or how to get their mail. In addition to putting in place a universal, publicly funded national pharmacare and dental care program that will offer full benefits to all Canadians, we will restore door-to-door mail delivery, and create affordable, accessible housing in communities across the country.

Work with Autistic Canadians to develop and implement a national Autism strategy that will coordinate support for research, ensure access to needs-based services, promote employment, and help expand housing options.

Provide better access to quality home care and long-term care by ending private, for-profit long-term care, and by developing national care standards.

Daniel Blaikie (Manitoba, Elmwood-Transcona) NDP Critic: Finance and Employment and Workforce Development

Topic and context

Employment Insurance rules

Platform

Twitter

Date

February 23, 2022

Statements/quotes

Women shouldn’t be punished for bearing children under #EI rules. They pay premiums to insure against job loss and that insurance should be there for them when they need it, whether they had a child recently or not.

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

Voted with the rest of the Members to unanimously pass the bill in the House, despite being displeased at the time it has taken to reverse the effects of the GIS claw-back.

Topic and context

GIS claw back

Platform

Twitter

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

Many seniors have experienced incredible hardship because the Liberals refused for months to correct a problem that led to pandemic benefit claw backs from seniors on the #GIS. When they finally admitted there was a problem, their solution would not come until May, June or July.

Today, New Democrats successfully concluded negotiations to have the reimbursement of clawed back benefits delivered by April 19th, and the most severely affected seniors may get help by mid-March. Moving up the timetable on these payments will save lives.

Topic and context

Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

Platform

House of Commons

Oral Questions

Date

February 10, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Omicron wave has resulted in 200,000 Canadians losing their job over the last month. The inadequacy of the Liberals’ new pandemic scheme is clear. Too many people do not qualify for the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. Those who qualify are having to wait too long for help.

When they do get help, $300/week is not enough to make ends meet.

The @NDP and I are ready to work with the Liberals to raise the CWLB to $500/week, and to make sure that Canadians actually have access to the help they need.

Topic and context
  • job Loss
  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit
Platform

House of Commons

Oral Questions

Date

February 8, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, just last week, Statistics Canada reported a job loss of 200,000 jobs during the omicron wave. That is 200,000 Canadian families who are struggling with a benefit system the Liberals created that is inadequate to the task. It does not pay $500 a week, people are waiting far too long to get access if they qualify, and even the special measures that the Liberals brought in just days after passing the bill are set to expire in the next few days.

What is the government's plan, and will it work with us to increase the benefit to $500 a week and make sure that all those Canadians out there who are experiencing job loss, still as a result of the pandemic, actually have access to help instead of—

Topic and context

Canada Pension Plan

Platform

House of Commons reply to the SFT

Date

February 1, 2022

Statements/quotes

There needs to be more important payments made into the CPP so that Canadians seniors can have a good pension fund.

Topic and context

GIS clawback

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

The problem with that answer just as the problem with the minister's answer in the fall economic statement is that it does not in any way do just to the urgency of those seniors who have lost their home because the government decided to claw back their guaranteed income supplement and are not getting Rhys level. They're on the street and freezing in the cold. We've heard reports of people who lost their lives. The fact is that waiting until may is not good enough. We call for an emergency payment for those people and to make sure that there's a fund to get them housed right away not in may --

Topic and context
  • structural reform for seniors
  • pandemic supports
  • compensation for GIS recipients
  • delay to implement sick days
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bull C-2

Date

December 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

We know seniors need help right now. Reimbursement for GIS losses will not be made until next May. What does my colleague think? Regarding seniors, the liberals support one-time payments rather than structural reforms. (translated)

Bill C-2 is not a big, bold move. It actually abandons Canadians who still need support.

The Prime Minister cancelled the CRB in October with just 2 days’ notice. Canadians who relied on the program were abandoned.

The delay for the payment to compensate GIS recipients is too long. Many of those seniors cannot wait until the month of May.

The EI system cannot keep up with the current reality of Canada’s job market.

People living with disabilities are not being supported adequately.

The government seemed to believe that students do not deserve supports. The government tried to implement a jobs program, which became the WE Charity Scandal. Students could just rely on a reduced benefit, the CESB.

It is absurd that it will take 10 months of work for Canadians to be able to rely on 10 sick days. The idea of that program is to protect Canadians in the context of the pandemic.

Topic and context

GIS claw back

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 7, 2021

Statements/quotes

Raising the GIS just to claw it back again isn't going to do anything for people like Emanuel and that answer isn't going to pay his rent so we've been asking this question for some time now. We see a government that's clawed back the GIS, the Canada child benefit, they have cut the CRB for 900,000 Canadians just as we're seeing COVID case counts go up and financial support isn't there for all of those 900,000 people who need it, Mr. Speaker. So when is it that the government's going to stop building the recovery on the backs of the financially vulnerable and actually look for some of the money at the top like the publicly-traded companies that took the wage subsidy and haven't paid anything back except to their shareholders?

Topic and context

C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, Second Reading debate

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

The NDP has been very clear. We believe that the CRB should have been maintained and restored to its original level of $500 a week. We opposed the cut to $300 this summer. The government decided to reduce the weekly supports from $500 to $300 even though the cost of living has increased.

The government believed that by reducing the supports, it would have incited Canadians to return to the job market. However, as I said earlier, there are other factors affecting the labour shortage. There may be more early retirements as more workers are called back to their workplace and employers begin to end work-from-home mandates. The government should help provide trainings to workers so that they have the skills to take the available jobs.

We have known for a long time that there are structural problems with the EI system and the government has done nothing to resolve those problems.

The CRB replacement program does not actually cover the time between the end of the CRB and the creation of the new program. The government failed to implement a low-income CERB repayment amnesty. There were many low-income Canadians who took the government at their word when they were told to apply to the CERB that will now face clawbacks. Seniors who received the CERB did not get pandemic support, they got an advance on their GIS, but they were not told. Many will not be able to pay that money back. It is not the pandemic support programs that are causing the problems in the labour market. We had a labour shortage before the pandemic. There is a need for education and training so that workers’ skills are suitable for the needs of employers.

The government should also fix the claw backs on the CCB.

Topic and context
  • ongoing campaign to raise awareness on the government’s decision to include emergency pandemic benefits from the calculation of GIS eligibility
  • on the same day, Mr. Blaikie made a request for an emergency debate in the Commons on the same issue. The Speaker did not grant his request
Platform

Print Media Winnipeg Free Press

Date

November 24. 2021

Statements/quotes

“As I write, Parliament has yet to resume. You can rest assured that putting an end to this assault on seniors will be a top priority for me and the rest of the NDP team in Ottawa.”

The New Democrats have been critical of the Liberals' decision to drop the CRB amid a fourth wave of the pandemic. The party is calling for an end to clawbacks facing low-income seniors and families, who are seeing support payments drop because they received other forms of aid during the pandemic. NDP finance critic Daniel Blaikie told the Star that ending those clawbacks would be a sticking point for the party to support any bills the Liberals introduce this fall.

Topic and context

Online petition to support the NDP’s call for the government to exclude emergency pandemic benefits from the calculation of GIS eligibility.

Platform

NDP Website, Twitter

Date

November 17, 2021

Statements/quotes

N/A

Topic and context

Raising awareness and pushing the federal government to reinstate the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments clawed back from seniors who received CERB and CRB

Platform

Rachel Blaney and Daniel Blaikie sent Correspondence to Ministers Qualtrough, Khera, Lebouthillier

Date

November 2, 2021

Statements/quotes

“We have heard from many seniors across the country who were shocked to learn they would be losing the benefits they rely on to get by. Canadian seniors deserve much better than the treatment they have gotten from the Liberal government”.

Link to letter

Topic and context

EI Sickness Benefits:

  1. On February 20, 2020, introduced Bill C-212 an Act to amend the EI Act to extend the maximum period for illness, injury or quarantine from 15 weeks to 50. It was never debated. The BQ introduced a similar Bill, C-265. At dissolution in August 2021, it stood at Report Stage in the HoC
  2. In April 2021, the Budget announced a measure to extend EI Sickness benefit from 15 to 26 weeks
  3. Bill C-265. An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine) BQ Bill, Claude DeBellefeuille. At dissolution, the Bill was reported back without amendment from committee
  4. Minister Carla Qualtrough appeared at HUMA on Bill C-24 (EI COVID measures). NDP urged the Minister to consider extending EI sickness from 15 to 50 weeks
Platform
  1. Twitter
  2. HUMA
  3. House of Commons
  4. HUMA
Date
  1. August 11, 2021
  2. June 15, 2021
  3. March 12, 2021
  4. March 11, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. “Canada needs an EI Sickness Benefit that covers sick people for 50 weeks. It’s the right thing to do and past time Liberals understood this.”
  2. I tried to introduce an amendment so that the employment insurance program would provide 50 weeks of sickness benefits. The Liberals insisted that the NDP did not understand the software that processes sickness benefits, that it is really difficult to make changes to it, and, for that reason, they did not support my amendment. They considered that it would make no sense at all to provide a royal recommendation for the amendment. In Bill C‑30, the government proposes to increase the benefit period from 15 to 26 weeks. It will be a year or 2 before that measure comes into force. The Liberals were opposed to my amendment because they said it was difficult to make changes to the software. Now they are committing to make a change to the software. So why do they not extend the period to 50 weeks now instead of extending it to 26 weeks?
  3. I do not know what more it would take to get this extension of the EI sickness benefit done. We have unanimity, apparently, in the House of Commons. We have a bill designed to reform the EI Act. We have a very simple legislative change that needs to be made. It needs to be implemented and although there can be complications in its implementation, let us get the ball rolling. It cannot be implemented until we make the legislative change. We have the commitment now in Parliament. Let us get the legislative job done and assign a date for government to implement it by.
  4. With all due respect, Minister, it has been over a year since the House of Commons passed a motion calling for an extension of the EI sickness benefits. Your government committed to an extension of the EI sickness benefits in the last election. How much more time do you need?
Topic and context

Disability Benefit:

  • budget 2021 proposed to provide $11.9 million over 3 years, starting in 2021 to 22, to ESDC to undertake consultations to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits
  • on June 22, 2021, the Minister of Employment introduced C-35, Canada Disability Benefit Act. It was never debated
Platform
  1. House of Commons
  2. Twitter
  3. House of Commons
Date
  1. August 12, 2020
  2. December 10, 2020
  3. April 19, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. Canadians living with disabilities are exposed to many barriers that keep them from gainful employment. This is why they are often overrepresented in various kinds of social assistance programs. We have seen, during this pandemic, that people living with disabilities face additional costs. This is also true for students living with disabilities. A basic income of $2,200 would provide the resources needed for disabled persons to live up to their full potential.
  2. Moves a motion seeking unanimous consent to introduce a new benefit of $2,200 per month to lift people living with disabilities out of poverty. It was not agreed to.
  3. NDP: The federal government should immediately introduce a new benefit of $2,200 per month to lift people living with disabilities out of poverty. Liberals: How does a 3-year study and extensive consultation sound?
Topic and context

Bill C-29 Back to Work Legislation (Port of Montreal) was introduced on April 27, 2021.

Platform

House of Commons C-29 debate, second Reading

Date

April 29, 2021

Statements/quotes

Condemns the Government for introducing legislation without trying to resolve the situation between the parties.

Topic and context

Budget 2021 released in April 2021 included a permanent increase of 10% to the OAS pension, to be implemented in July 2022 for seniors aged 75 and over. The measure has been criticized by opposition parties saying the increase should be for all seniors.

Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 21, 2021

Statements/quotes

The NDP has long recognized that seniors are struggling and that they require more assistance through programs like the OAS. We must ensure that the announced supplement to OAS occurs not from the age of 75, but from the age of 65.

Topic and context

Campaign commitments related to EI

Platform

NDP 2021 Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Make EI available to people who quit their jobs to go back to school, to provide necessary childcare, or to protect their health or the health of immunocompromised family members.

Extend sickness benefits from 15 to 50 weeks, and create a pilot project to allow workers with episodic illnesses and disabilities to access EI sickness benefits a day at a time.

Bring back the former Extra 5 Weeks pilot project and make it permanent, restore the economic regions in the territories and PEI to their 2014 boundaries.

Bring in a new special leave that allows parents to take shorter parental leave at a higher replacement rate. Allow self-employed workers to opt-into parental benefits at any time before taking the leave, and move to double leave for parents of multiples.

Establish a Service Guarantee that will make departments responsible for establishing and publishing binding service standards for programs like EI, veterans support, Indigenous services, passports, Canada Revenue Agency call centres, and other services. Ministers will be held responsible for delivering on these targets.

Rachel Blaney (BC, North Island—Powell River) NDP Critic: Seniors

Topic and context

GIS claw back repayment

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is going through the roof, and yesterday the Bank of Canada raised interest rates. Paying rent, buying food and medicine is seriously concerning for seniors.

Some of the most vulnerable seniors have been anxiously waiting for months to get their GIS paid back. The government is doing the bare minimum to help people get by, and time is running out to fix the government's GIS mess. Will seniors be left out in the cold again because the Liberal government could not fix the problems it created?

Topic and context
  • bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act
  • growing poverty among persons living with disabilities and seniors
  • guaranteed basic livable income
  • ensuring the tax system works for working seniors
  • consider her bill that would make sure every senior who received the GIS had a one-year amnesty
Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

We are here tonight to talk about seniors and the fact the government made a colossal mistake that really impacted seniors profoundly. Working seniors did what every other Canadian did. They lost their jobs because of the pandemic and they applied for pandemic benefits to help tide them over during this very difficult time.

As we have these discussions, I hope we recognize seniors across this country, the most vulnerable of them, the ones who are receiving the guaranteed income supplement, are hitting a crisis point. Even with this payment that I am very grateful to see happen, it is far too late. July of last year was when these seniors lost their GIS, some partially and some completely. During that time, they have not only lost this amount of money but lost the provincial benefits that are automatically given to them because they qualify for the guaranteed income supplement.

I talked about those people in the House of Commons repeatedly, because it is important all of us as legislators understand the impacts we have when we make decisions, the impacts the government creates when it makes decisions without really looking at the ramifications, especially for those of us who are challenged the most.

Even with this money coming sooner than we expected and opening up stores so Service Canada can work with members to identify the seniors who are the most vulnerable and get them the money even sooner, we know they have lost so much during that time. I think of the many seniors who lost their homes. They lost the places where they lived and are now put in a bad situation. We all know in this place, because we are hearing in all our communities and constituencies, that the cost of living is going up dramatically. The cost of housing is one of the most profoundly expensive costs we have.

When we look at some of these low-income seniors, they lost their housing when they lost their GIS. They lost the stable housing they could afford and are now living in vehicles or in someone's basement. They are living an experience they hoped they would never have to. Something I will also think about when I remember this time is how many seniors said they never thought they would be in this position in their eighties.

Here they are now and they are finally getting a one-time payment. They are going to be retroactively paid, and then into the future we are being promised by the government that there will be no more cutbacks, that they will return to their normal GIS and that things should continue. However, they have already lost so much, and now they are having to pay a lot higher rates for their rent. In some cases, they have lost their health because they have not been able to afford their medication.

I do not know about the other members in the House, but as the senior spokesperson for the NDP, I am hearing not only from my constituency but from seniors across Canada who are writing to ask if they will be punished again in the next tax season. They are asking me if this is really going to be over and if I can promise them this is going to be over.

I really hope that the Minister thinks about that as this rolls out and that we make sure that seniors across this country are educated so they know that things should get better. More than anything I hope that of course this place will make sure that this does not happen again.

It does really outline something that I believe this place has to take more consideration of and that is the growing poverty across our country. Persons living with disabilities and seniors are some of the poorest people across our country. We need to look into that and figure out how we can do much better. All of us have been shaken by this. When we recognize that, for single seniors, the GIS tops them up to just over $19,000 a year and if they are in a partnership just over $25,000 a year, most of us cannot imagine, especially with the cost of everything increasing, living on that low income.

I hope I have encouraged the Minister to start talking meaningfully about a guaranteed basic livable income. We need to have this conversation. As we see the world changing and see automation increasing, we need to see the bar of dignity extended and not dismissed as it has been.

We also have to have big conversations about how long seniors are working, some by choice and some because they do not have a choice, and make sure that the tax system works for them. We know a lot of seniors are working into their mid-seventies and when they hit a certain point in their seventies, they are no longer able to pay into the Canadian pension plan. That can be a big deterrent for people who have good health and want to keep working.

I also want to talk about the GIS and one of the big faults that it has. Every year between 20,000 to 30,000 seniors in July lose their GIS. They lose it in part because they filed their taxes a little too late, because somebody they loved was ill, because they themselves were ill, and sometimes because they are having an onset of dementia. There are multiple reasons that happens.

I have asked the Minister to consider a bill I presented that would look at making sure that every senior who received the GIS had a one-year amnesty. If they got their taxes in a little late, they would not be worried about being able to pay their rent in July.

When I was first elected, I had a call from a senior who was 84 years old, telling me that she got her taxes in a little late because she was sick with the flu during tax time. She had lost her GIS and did not know when it was coming and was going to be evicted from her apartment. I do not think anyone in the House wants to see an 84-year-old evicted simply because she was ill.

My bill would look at creating a space for people to be secure in their income, for those like this amazing senior who was so brave to reach out. For seniors to have to humble themselves, who have worked hard their whole lives, the vast majority of seniors receiving GIS are single women or the working poor. That is who they are. They have worked hard all of their lives. They do not want to ask for handouts. They want to look after themselves, so this has been really hard. We were able to work with the senior, her landlord and with the CRA to make sure that she got her money quickly and assured the landlord she would be able to pay her rent, if a little late.

I hope as we go through this experience all of us remember it is our job here as legislators to make sure that the most vulnerable in our country are cared for. When we look at the processes that we are putting into place, we need to think first of those who need us to think of them and not think of those who have so much that they can fill in those gaps when they need to.

It has been said to me many times that we know who we are by how the people who are the most vulnerable in our communities are doing. Canada must do better. We have seen this example for seniors. Let us make sure that we no longer punish the poor for simply doing the hardest work they can to look after themselves.

Topic and context

Seniors at risk - emergency funds

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government made a huge mistake when it cut some of the most vulnerable seniors off the GIS, which they rely on to purchase basic things like housing, medication and food. They feel hopeless and they feel abandoned. The New Democrats have been asking the government since before the last election to fix this problem. Finally the Minister announced a one-time payment, but it is not until May.

Seniors are in desperate need now to stave off hunger and eviction, so again I am asking this: Will the Minister support seniors at risk and immediately release emergency funds?

Topic and context
  • pandemic Supports
  • workers/ Seniors
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

The cost of groceries is up, gas and heating is more and more expensive and the price of housing is soaring. In a recent poll 60% of Canadians were having difficulty feeding their families. Liberals are not making it better for Canadians. Especially vulnerable seniors who are told they must wait months for their GIS payment. When will this government help hard working Canadians who are struggling every day just to get by.

Topic and context
  • pandemic Supports
  • workers/ Seniors
Platform

House of Commons Reply to SFT

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

Many working seniors who lost their job because of the pandemic have lost much of their GIS because they have applied for supports. We have seniors who are losing their homes and who are unable to pay for medication or food.

Topic and context
  • supports for Seniors
  • GIS claw backs
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 16, 2021

Statements/quotes

Seniors across the country who had their GIS cut off can't afford food, medicine, heat, rent. Some are already homeless and some are at risk to be homeless soon. For months, the NDPs asked this government to fix the problem. Finally, there was an announcement that gave seniors across this country hope for a one-time payment. Sadly, today we found out that payment isn't coming until May. This government should be ashamed. Seniors are losing everything, and they are doing nothing. When will the Prime Minister stop turning his back on the seniors of this country?

Topic and context
  • supports for seniors
  • GIS claw backs
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 10, 2021

Statements/quotes

This government has a pattern of punishing the poor and rewarding the rich. After clawing back GIS, finally the deputy minister committed to fixing this quickly but in many cases this is far too late. Working seniors across this country are already living on the streets. Stop punishing seniors with red tape. Will have this government promise to get it done now so seniors get this much-needed amount of money immediately.

Topic and context

GIS Clawback

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, seniors in Canada who received the guaranteed income supplement are some of the poorest in this country. Many work to subsidize their meager income. Like he -- every other working Canadian, they asked for help during the pandemic. Now they are being punished. Seniors like David, 71 years old. $1,000 cut off his income. He cannot afford his food. He cannot afford his medication. How can the minister of seniors sleep at night knowing that these seniors are going hungry and are not getting their medications every day here?

Topic and context

Raising awareness and pushing the federal government to reinstate the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments clawed back from seniors who received CERB and CRB

Platform
  1. Rachel Blaney and Daniel Blaikie sent correspondence to Ministers Qualtrough, Khera, Lebouthillier
  2. NDP News Release
  3. Twitter
Date
  1. November 2, 2021
  2. November 3, 2021
  3. November 5, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. “We have heard from many seniors across the country who were shocked to learn they would be losing the benefits they rely on to get by. Canadian seniors deserve much better than the treatment they have gotten from the Liberal government”. Link to letter
  2. Jagmeet Singh stated a similar message in a News Release.
  3. Thank you to @CanAgeSeniors for speaking out on this GIS seniors crisis hope @KamalKheraLib and the Liberals are listening #SeniorsAtRisk
Topic and context

Priorities when returning to the House of Commons

Platform

Twitter

Date

October 1, 2021

Statements/quotes

It's #NationalSeniorsDay! Looking forward to returning to the House soon to continue to push the government so that all seniors in Canada have access to the housing, benefits, and care that they need and deserve.

Topic and context

Sick Leave

Platform

Twitter

Date

August 20, 2021

Statements/quotes

Trudeau promises 10 days sick leave for federal workers? Now, when it was needed so much for the pandemic? And makes the promise in a grocery store - workers who have been vulnerable front lines workers during the pandemic, but who will not qualify for this benefit.

Topic and context

NDP Commitments related to seniors

Platform

NDP Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Advocated for a National Seniors Strategy to make seniors health care a priority, reduce isolation and tackle seniors’ poverty. This will include a funded national dementia strategy, and an elder abuse prevention plan developed with seniors to put an end to abuse and neglect in our communities.

Promised a 1-year delay to help seniors at risk of having their GIS benefits suspended for being unable to make the required income statement.

Recommended a Canada Caregiver Tax Credit refundable as well as safe and affordable housing units. Promised to tackle seniors’ isolation by improving seniors’ access to technology and support to stay connected with family.

Promised better access to quality home care and long-term care, ending private, for-profit long-term care and developing national standards.

Topic and context

CERB

Platform

NA

Date

NA

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, let us be real. The Liberals offered $1,000 for CERB and it was the NDP who moved them to increase it to $2,000, so I would remind the minister of that.

In the next 3 weeks, the government is cutting the CERB support to Canadians across the country almost in half. I am asking the minister how he expects people to buy food, pay their rent and cover their bills on $1,200. That does not pass the test in Canadian cities.

The government gives billions of dollars to oil and gas companies, refuses to tax the ultra-rich, but is fine to nickel and dime everyday people. Instead of working for the ultra-rich and huge corporations, when will the government step up.

Topic and context

Budget 2021 released in April 2021 included a permanent increase of 10% to the OAS pension, to be implemented in July 2022 for seniors aged 75 and over. The measure has been criticized by opposition parties saying the increase should be for all seniors.

Platform

House of Commons

Date

June 11, 2021 April 23, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Right now, the government is setting up a two-tiered system for seniors. We have the senior-seniors, who will receive an increase in benefits, and junior-seniors that get paid less. I believe this is unfair.”

Topic and context

Advocated for a universal basic income approach and additional support for seniors during COVID crisis

Platform

News Release and Letter to former Seniors Minister

Date

April 24, 2020

Statements/quotes

“A universal approach would have gotten seniors and everyone else falling through the cracks of the CERB right now the help they need. Instead we’re now dealing with a whole slate of programming that is confusing and still difficult for people to access, with some being left out entirely. This is not the approach of a government that is truly concerned about the wellbeing of seniors.”

Topic and context

Back to work legislation and right to strike

Platform

House of Commons C-29, Port of Montreal Operations

Date

April 28, 2021

Statements/quotes

The right to strike is a pillar that has taken years to build, and we must absolutely protect it. It is a right for workers to improve their conditions of employment and their wages, and creates important things for our whole economy.

Alexandre Boulerice (Quebec, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie) NDP Critic: Deputy Leader and Labour

Topic and context

Labour

Platform

House of Commons

Oral Questions

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, workers at the Office of the Auditor General have been on strike for 3 months and without a contract for more than 3 years. The President of the Treasury Board's absence and silence are not helping the situation.

The strike is dragging on and that is having a negative impact on performance audits of this government on important issues like emergencies, cybersecurity, homelessness and vaccine spending. It is time for the minister to get involved.

Will the minister step up and do something to ensure that these professionals get a fair and equitable contract?

Topic and context

Universal public pharmacare program

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-10, An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from La Pointe-de-l'Île for his speech. I obviously agree with him that our public health care system has really been devastated by the Conservatives' cuts to provincial transfers, cuts that the Liberals maintained.

However, my colleague and I do not quite agree on the impact of a universal public pharmacare program, which would not only enable the public health network to save money on drugs, but would also help workers and businesses save too.

My colleague does not agree with the FTQ, the CSN, the CSQ and the Union des consommateurs du Québec that there should be a universal public pharmacare program to ensure better coverage for everyone and reduce the cost of drugs. It would also mean savings for Quebec's health care network.

Topic and context

C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-3

Date

December 3, 2021

Statements/quotes

The NDP has been insisting for at least 18 months that we must give workers 10 days of paid sick leave. In 2020, the leader of the NDP spoke about this 22 times in the House. He asked the Liberals 22 times when this was coming and why they were not taking action, and he reminded them that this change was needed in order to protect people, institutions and our communities. However, the government only kicked the can down the road. It remained evasive, saying that this measure was not needed and that it was doing something else.

The 10 days of sick leave is a protection for workers that the NDP has been calling for for a long time. The Liberals were a bit late to the game, but they finally saw the light, had a road to Damascus moment, had a revelation.

Topic and context

C-254, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act (PMB – BQ, Julie Vignola)

Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 28, 2021, second Reading

Statements/quotes

This bill is very similar to others that the NDP supported in 2007, 2009 and 2011. We introduced 2 similar bills ourselves. We may not agree on the process or way of doing things, but we do agree on the objective, which is fundamental for any francophone in Quebec and North America.

However, I do want share some valid concerns from the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, which wonders whether the approach taken by the Bloc Québécois might open the door for other provinces to give precedence to their own provincial laws on official languages. This could ultimately undermine the rights of francophone linguistic minorities elsewhere in the country. Would it not be wise to look at this issue from the perspective of ensuring that workers have equal rights in the workplace, regardless of whether the workplace falls under federal or provincial jurisdiction?

It might be much simpler and safer for the Canada Labour Code to give Quebec workers the same protections laid out in Quebec's Charter of the French Language without compromising the potential recourse available under the Official Languages Act to minority francophones.

Topic and context

C-29, Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021

Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 28, 2021

Statements/quotes

If I recall correctly, in the Saskatchewan case, in 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada declared that the right to strike and to take job action is a fundamental right, even a constitutional right. Why would my colleague want the Liberals to violate the constitutional rights of workers when pressure tactics are part of modern labour relations?

Topic and context

QP session – Port of Montreal/Back to Work legislation

Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

The Liberals have upset this balance in the Port of Montreal strike. As usual, the Liberals have threatened workers with special legislation even before the strike gets under way.

Topic and context

Reply to the Speech form the Throne

Platform

House of Commons

Date

September 24, 2020

Statements/quotes

The crisis has shown how important sick leave is. People who do not feel well and have COVID symptoms should not to feel forced to go to work. They should be able to stay home, because that is a fundamental right in terms of workers' health and safety.

Topic and context

Order Paper Question Q-297

Platform

House of Commons

Date

December 4, 2020

Statements/quotes

With regard to the design and implementation of programs and spending measures relating to COVID-19, broken down by program and spending measure: (a) have contracts been awarded to private-sector suppliers and, if so, how many, and (b) what are the details for each contract in (a), including the (i) date the contract was awarded, (ii) description of goods or services, (iii) volume, (iv) final contract amount, (v) supplier, (vi) country of the supplier?

Topic and context

Campaign commitments related to EI

Platform

NDP 2021 Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

We believe that it’s time to update the Canada Labour Code to enhance safeguards for workers so that everyone can stay safe and healthy at work. We urgently need to do more to make sure that people can access paid sick leave when they need to take time off from work due to illness.

Leah Gazan (Manitoba, Winnipeg Centre) NDP Critic: Families, Children and Social Development

Topic and context
  • inflation
  • supports for workers, families and seniors
Platform

Twitter

Date

February 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

The cost of living is out of control - prices are rising much faster than wages.

My message to the Liberal govt: stop the corporate giveaways, expand income supports for workers, families and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet.

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

Voted along with the rest of the Members to unanimously pass the bill in the House, despite being displeased at the time it’s taken to reverse the effects of the GIS claw-back.

Topic and context
  • Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)
  • Guaranteed basic livable income
Platform

House of Commons

Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Winnipeg North often defers to provincial NDP politics to deflect his government's failures, including with seniors. I would like to read a story from 1 senior, who wrote, “Our GIS has been cut off and the $1,300 per month that we receive from the government is not enough to keep the shelter over our heads. I feel weak and depressed. Having no energy, I spend many sleepless nights crying.”

In the last session, the member's government voted against the NDP's universal pharmacare bill, when seniors are literally choosing between medication and rent. There are people in my riding who, as a result of the government's callous choice, have had their GIS cut from $600 a month to $60 a month. My party fought for a guaranteed livable basic income for seniors, not a guaranteed income supplement, but one that is livable, to lift people out of poverty. His party is nowhere on the map on that. I am proud of my colleague from North Island—Powell River, who fought really hard to get the Liberals to pull back on their brutal clawbacks on seniors.

I am wondering if my hon. colleague can respond to these concerns and not deflect.

Topic and context
  • poverty
  • Basic Livable Income
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-8

Date

February 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Poverty is a human right violation, which is even more appalling when it is a policy decision.

Many places in the world have embraced guaranteed liveable basic income and it would be a game changer for people in my riding.

Topic and context
  • national Meal Program
  • families and Children
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

February 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, under the liberals soaring food prices are squeezing families who are struggling to make ends meet. This is resulting in children across Canada, including my riding of Winnipeg centre going to school hungry yet we are the only g7 country without a national school meal program. Mr. Speaker, no child should ever have to go to school hungry. Will the liberals commit today to implementing a national school meal program?

Topic and context
  • families and seniors
  • supports and GIC claw-back
Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 2, 2022

Statements/quotes

It’s no secret that the pandemic continues on and that it is getting harder for families to make ends meet. Families are struggling, yet the government has cut back supports and in fact has clawed back supports from seniors. The Liberals have not gone after their corporate friends. They have actually gone after seniors and families trying to make ends meet.

I am wondering where my colleague is on the current cutbacks that have been made by the government, and whether he is willing to at the very least give a one-time payment in the interim to seniors who have been impacted by GIS cutbacks, some of whom are actually ending up on the streets. As our colleague for North Island – Powell River indicated, we actually lost a senior due to poverty yesterday.

Topic and context

Guaranteed livable basic income

Platform

House of Commons

Date

December 16, 2021

Statements/quotes

Introduced Bill C-223, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

This enactment requires the Minister of Finance to develop a national framework to provide all persons over the age of 17 in Canada with access to a guaranteed livable basic income. 

Topic and context
  • GIS and CCB claw-backs
  • food security crisis
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 14, 2021

Statements/quotes

In the last 2 months, food banks across Manitoba have seen a 70% increase in individuals accessing services compared to last year. Instead of the Liberal government choosing to help people, it continues to claw back GIS and CCB payment from individuals and families already living in precarious situations. We are in a food security crisis. When will the government implement a national food strategy and immediately end claw-backs to GIS and CCB? Choosing to help

Topic and context

Pay Equity

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 3, 2021

Statements/quotes

Madam speaker, this week a PBO report showed women are still not being paid equally in Canada and many won't see pay equity until 2029. That is 8 years from now. Remember when the Prime Minister said gender equity was important because it was 2015? 6 years later, this Liberal government and women are still waiting for pay equity because of their failure to act. Incremental justice is unacceptable. When will the Liberals correct course so women get pay equity?

Topic and context
  • poverty
  • Canada Child Benefit
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

November 29, 2021

Statements/quotes

Last week campaign 2,000 released a report that showed that 4,000 children in Winnipeg Centre live in poverty. Now, instead of addressing high poverty rates, this government is clawing back benefits from low income families causing food and housing insecurity. The liberals didn't claw back pandemic supports from rich corporations that doled out bonuses to their shareholders. So why is this government cutting CCB payments from the lowest income families in Manitoba?

Topic and context

Building on Rachel Blaney and Daniel Blaikie’s efforts to raise awareness and to sway the federal government to reinstate the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments clawed back from seniors who received CERB and CRB

Platform

NDP News Release MP website

Date

October 28, 2019

Statements/quotes

NDP MPs in Manitoba, Leah Gazan, Niki Ashton and Daniel Blaikie are calling on Justin Trudeau to get back to work before November 22 and to reverse his decision to take away help for Canadians to get through the pandemic in the middle of the fourth wave.

“I’ve heard from families and seniors in my riding who are at risk of becoming unhoused for the first time as a result of the CRB being cancelled. The impacts of the pandemic are not over,” said Gazan. “1 constituent, who is immunocompromised, is unable to work as a result of the pandemic, jeopardizing his ability to provide for his family. He was shocked when the Prime Minister provided only 48 hours’ notice before cutting the benefits he depended on. The Prime Minister needs to immediately reverse this callous decision.”

At least 900,000 people discovered last week that their benefits would be eliminated and replaced with a patchwork solution, but details still need to be released and it's unclear if those people would even be eligible. New Democrats have committed to push to extend help for people like the CRB until we are no longer in a pandemic.

Topic and context

NDP commitments related to families, children and social development

Platform

NDP Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Introduce legislation that enshrines Canada’s commitment to high-quality, public child care in law. Public early childhood education and child care that is affordable and available to all families.

Build a universal, $10 a day child care system that’s there for all parents.

Respect, support and resource Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare systems and commit to ending discrimination against Indigenous children, young people and families by fully implementing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders.

Cap and reduce tuition fees, and build towards making post-secondary education part of our public education system, and move away from loans and permanently double non-repayable Canada Student Grants.

Funding to expand training options. Large employers will be required to spend at least 1% of payroll on training for their employees annually.

Build towards a guaranteed livable income for all Canadians starting this work immediately by lifting every senior and person living with a disability out of poverty.

Make affordable, quality cell phone service and high-speed broadband for all, declare high-speed internet an essential service, and put in place a price cap on cell phone and internet bills.

Remove barriers for persons living with disabilities such as guaranteed livable income, publicly funded pharmacare and dental care, restore door-to-door mail delivery and created affordable, accessible housing in communities across the country.

Create at least 500,000 units of quality, affordable housing in the next 10 years, with half of that done within 5 years, and provide immediate relief for families that are struggling to afford rent in otherwise suitable housing, while we bring forward long-term solutions to the housing affordability crisis.

Topic and context

Pandemic support for seniors

Platform

House Debate

Date

June 15, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Can the member comment on the lack of supports for seniors since the beginning of this pandemic?”, fueling CPC member Alice Wong to elaborate on her speech on seniors who she claims have been isolated by the pandemic and unable to seek assistance, making them more vulnerable to fraud, underscoring that the government has done nothing to combat this issue.

Topic and context

Guaranteed Livable Basic Income

Platform
  1. House of Commons MP website
  2. HUMA study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors
Date
  1. May 25, 2021
  2. May 25, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. Presented unanimous consent Motion 46 which has a broad base of support from MPs and Senators from all parties, unions, health leaders, seniors, academics, the music and creative sector, small businesses, farmers, young people, students, Disabled persons, faith groups, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society. Individuals across Canada have been mobilizing in support of M-46, including the over 40,000 Canadians who have signed the petition.
  2. Questioned why the Government is paying $90 million for the Age Well at Home program rather than paying people a living wage.
Topic and context

Age Well at Home Program

Platform

HUMA study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Questioned the Government’s choice to rely on a “chosen” volunteer and asked why they didn’t introduce a guaranteed livable income instead.

Questioned how the Government will achieve it goals of attaining autonomy with its Age Well At Home initiative. She asked for the deadline for a call for proposals, who will be targeted for eligible funding, and what type of activities is the Government considering for funding eligibility,

Topic and context

OAS Increase

  • Budget 2021 included a permanent increase of 10% to the OAS pension, to be implemented in July 2022 for seniors aged 75 and over. The measure has been criticized by opposition parties saying the increase should be for all seniors.
Platform

HUMA study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Consistently advocating for more support for seniors, questioning research models that led to the determination that only seniors aged 75 and older needed additional support, asked the Seniors Minister:

“Why do you believe that it's appropriate to provide seniors with such little direct support during the pandemic when they've been the most impacted, yet you have millions and millions—in fact, billions. There was $18 billion for TMX pipeline of support for big oil and big corporations.”

“If the government is trying to target seniors most in need, might I add mostly women who don't benefit from a pension, why have you not specifically aimed OAS increases to low-income seniors?”

Requested the research and data that was used to withhold payments for seniors aged 65 to 74, as well as gender specific data and specific research with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities with respect to poverty amongst senior women.

The department provided the committee with a written response. Note that data on the impact of this measure on Indigenous and racialized communities are not currently available.

Topic and context

Community Services Recovery Fund

Platform

HUMA study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Took an interest in the one-time, $400 million investment to help charities and non-profits adapt and modernize. She got the following questions on record for when the information becomes available: breakdown of enrollment across the country, which colleges are running the program, how he department will be tracking completion rate, how the program compares with other investments in training like the Ontario accelerated PSW, and if these programs are complimentary.

Topic and context

Impact of the pandemic on Indigenous and Black seniors/poverty among seniors

Platform

HUMA study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Seniors

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Because the rates of poverty within certain groups of seniors are higher, asked “Has been data collection on the social determinates on health and the impact of the pandemic on Indigenous and Black seniors.”

This data is not currently available.

Topic and context
  • conditions for workers and patients in LTC,
  • supports for seniors and people living with disabilities,
  • national Care Standards,
  • end for-profit LTC, and
  • lack of housing
Platform

House Debate

Date

March 23, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Covid-19 has been an especially tragic time for the people working and for the people living in long-term care. 12,000 persons living or working in long-term care has died since the beginning of the pandemic.”

“Many persons living with disabilities have been denied proper care due to the profit model. There must be a care guarantee for seniors and for persons living with disabilities.”

“Young persons with disability are often in the situation where the only facilities that can meet their needs are long-term care homes.”

“Disability advocates are right to say that disabled Canadians are denied their dignity in many ways, such as housing. This also true with regard to the lack of proper access to home care.”

“It is alarming that while for-profit care homes only have a quarter of senior care facilities, they account for 44% fatalities in the context of the pandemic.”

“Long-term care workers deserve safe working conditions, the availability of sick leave and respect.”

“National care standards with accountably systems tied to federal funding are needed. We must put an end to for-profit long-term care.”

“When we look at expenditures that could save lives, such as implementing standards in long term care, I believe such measures are overdue and seniors deserve better.”

In response to LPC MP, Lamoureux who recognized that long-term care needs national standards but also recognized that the provinces, as providers of services, have a critical role, asked if the NDP received any provincial support for this particular initiative: “There is nothing stopping the federal government in establishing those standards to protect disabled persons and seniors.”

“We often speak about the vulnerabilities of seniors, and it is too rare we mention their value.”

Louise Chabot (Québec, Thérèse-De Blainville) BQ Critic: Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities

Topic and context

EI – parental leave

Platform

House of Commons

Oral Questions

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, even now, in 2022, new mothers who lose their jobs when their parental leave is up cannot collect EI.

Even though 6 brave women fought the federal government in court to end this injustice, even though they won, Ottawa is appealing. Imagine. The government is appealing a court ruling because it wants to leave young mothers who have lost their jobs out in the cold. Will the government cancel the appeal?

Topic and context

Pilot project for long-term care and home care – provincial jurisdiction

Platform

HUMA study on Labour Shortages, Working Conditions and the Care Economy

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

How do you collect data on labour shortages, both nationally and regionally?

Are there examples of similar measures being put in place by other provinces? You mentioned that labour is a provincial jurisdiction. Could we have some data?

In Quebec, educational child care services are much broader than day care. It takes training and certain qualifications to get a position as an educator. I wonder if we are comparing comparable data?

Why are there federal pilot projects for LTCs training when training is provincial jurisdiction, who asked for these, would it not be better to health transfers?

Elaboration on the “Modernization” of the temporary foreign workers program as a solution to the labour shortage. Les petites entreprises doivent rendre leur équipement plus moderne mais en terme de virage numérique est ce qu’il y a des choses à mettre de l’avant (des programmes) pour accompagner les PMEs.

Topic and context
  • Canada Labour Code
    • modernization
    • replacement workers
Platform

HUMA

Minister O’Regan on mandate letter

Date

February 17, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Canada Labour Code needs to be modernized, when will the 10 day sick leave be implemented with Bill C-3?

She asked a question regarding preventing the hiring of replacement “scab” workers (Answer: the Canadian Labour Code prevents replacement workers, respect the collective bargaining process)

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

HUMA

Minister Khera on mandate letter

Date

February 14, 2022

Statements/quotes

The OAS increase discriminates based on age. The increase should be applicate to seniors starting at age 65. The Minister addressed the main factors considered in the decision taken by the government such as seniors living longer, and that they are more likely to be widowed or disabled and facing larger medical expenses.

Topic and context
  • Employment Insurance
    • systems
    • service standards
    • staffing
  • Community Recovery Fund
Platform

HUMA

Minister Gould on mandate letter

Date

February 10, 2022

Statements/quotes

How will the government will manage the implementation of the EI benefit systems so that will be reliable and to make sure it’s accessible no matter where someone lives in Canada. EI claimants have been waiting for months. She asked the Minister if she thinks the system is currently efficient. The Minister addressed the recent progress made and the unusually number of claims currently.

Workers who pay EI expect service and expect benefits in time, and there needs to be a change in culture at Service Canada. She asked how the Community recovery funds will be distributed, and about the criteria to share the funds equally across the country and the timeframe. The Minister said it would be equal representation across the country and will share the information with the committee when we have it.

Asked how many of the 3000 staff hired during pandemic are still at Service Canada. Ms. Chabot said she was told there were only half of the staff left there. The Minister said it must be a miscommunication.

Topic and context

Study on the effectiveness of the Temporary Foreign Worker program

Platform

HUMA Committee Business

Date

February 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Proposed the following motion which she later withdrew due to the committee’s previous report on the topic, because the committee will be hearing from the Ministers, and to finish the seniors study first, adding that maybe this is not the time to have a broad study on the TFW program.

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the effectiveness of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and on the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessment, that the committee invite the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, that the committee hold at least 4 meetings, and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-8

Date

February 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

The government has implemented a two-tier system for the main universal plan for seniors, the OAS. (translated)

Topic and context

Pandemic Supports

Platform

House of Commons reply to the SFT

Date

February 1, 2022

Statements/quotes

What should the government's priorities be to support workers hurt by the pandemic? (translated)

Topic and context

Service Standards for EI Claims

Platform

HUMA

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

During the HUMA study on Service Standards for EI Claims, Mme. Chabot asked when the Ministers become aware of the issues and when were they briefed on it, as well what Service Canada is doing to address payment delays and the number of files pending processing beyond the 4-week service standard.

She addressed the need for solutions for those currently without income focussed on solving the payment problem in the short and long term.

Topic and context

EI Sickness Benefit

Platform

House of Commons’ Oral Questions

Date

December 9, 2021

Statements/quotes

Emily lost her battle with cancer in 2020. The fight for employment insurance that supports seriously-ill workers until the end of their treatment continues. 2 years ago tomorrow, Emily met with the prime minister who promised her to increase the number of weeks of benefits. But since, nothing's changed. Mr. Speaker, 15 weeks is not enough. 26 weeks is not enough either. When will the government realize that sick people need 50 weeks?

Amongst the people who are continuing Emily's fight is Jessica. She is here in Ottawa. And she is in good position to see if this government takes its commitment seriously. The prime minister promised Emily that he would increase the duration of benefits. He has the duty to honour that promise for all the other sick people like Emily. They need 50 weeks of EI coverage to recover. Will the government finally meet their needs?

Topic and context

Measures in Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 29, 2021

Statements/quotes

The government is saying the bill is essential and urgent. Urgent is not the right term. The government waited until the last minute to get this done. The situation became urgent because they waited too long.

In 2020, another Bill C-2 for pandemic measures was adopted and because the House was prorogued for 5 weeks, we were in such a rush to pass the bill to support workers. Once again, rather than continuing the work we were doing in parliament, the government decided to hold and election, and here we are in an urgent situation again.

The problem is that anyone who works in the performing arts are freelancers and are not entitled to those supports, so those who are not in a lockdown situation need support.

This bill does nothing for the independent workers.

There are 2 types of solutions: We need to overhaul the EI system. In C-2 we have the opportunity to help those workers. We can’t abandon them.

We would like to take the time to study this properly is committee and come back to the House with a more serious and responsible bill.

Topic and context

BQ commitments related to Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities

Platform

BQ Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Proposes coverage to self-employed workers and improved coverage for seasonal workers, 2 much needed improvements to the EI program in Canada.

Proposes to increase the transfer for workforce training by $1.4 billion a year.

As part of a proposed package of measures to fight the labour shortage, the BQ will propose measures to encourage the work of seniors with their invaluable expertise, by allowing low-income seniors to work more without penalty and by involving Aboriginal nations, in addition to encouraging the settlement of newcomers and graduates in the regions.

Topic and context

EI sickness, wait times, eligibility criteria, outdated technology

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-30

Date

June 22, 2021

Statements/quotes

Sick workers relied on the government to take action and increase special sickness benefits from 15 to 50 weeks. There was no reason to miss this opportunity. The government abandoned 150,000 people by taking only half a step by increasing the duration of benefits to 26 weeks.

Wait times for the unemployed have been enormous and the EI system needs to be reformed.

The budget proposes a single eligibility criterion of 420 hours for the duration of a year. That is not enough.

HUMA did a broad study on Employment Insurance and the government will have all the solutions and information to testify to the flaws in the system.

Employment Insurance's computer system is so outdated that the minister responsible has stated that a reform of the system will take at least 7 years. This is unacceptable.

The pandemic is still having an effect on several sectors and the government has no short-term answers for the most affected people.

We must establish a real EI program that does not discriminate against workers.

There are measures in this budget that we support and we will vote in favour of C-30. It is unfortunate, however, that the measures in this budget are mostly temporary measures.

Topic and context

Language of work

Platform

House of Commons

Date

June 15, 2021

Statements/quotes

For language of work, for businesses under federal jurisdiction, isn't the best solution to apply Bill 101?

Topic and context

C-273, National Strategy for a Guaranteed Basic Income Act (Julie Dzerowicz Davenport, ON)

Platform

House of Commons

Date

June 14, 2021

Statements/quotes

Second Reading debated: I will not comment on the substance of the matter, because a guaranteed basic income, or minimum income, has potential advantages. However, I have to point out that it is up to each province to introduce it. The social assistance programs we are talking about, the income assistance programs, ultimately, and other social programs are a provincial jurisdiction. Rather than reflecting on these conditions for the 21st century, there are 2 things the government could do right away. First, it could strengthen and reform the employment insurance system for workers. Second, it could stop discriminating against some seniors and increase old age security for all seniors aged 65 and over.

Topic and context

Statement by Members: Canada Labour Code preventing employers from hiring scabs during strikes or lockouts.

Platform

House of Commons

Date

May 31, 2021

Statements/quotes

Madam Speaker, federally regulated workers have long been unfairly treated. I want to talk about the lack of provisions in the Canada Labour Code preventing employers from hiring scabs during strikes or lockouts.

Striking is an essential tool that allows workers to stand up for their fundamental right to free collective bargaining. Allowing employers to hire scabs deprives workers of that right. This practice has been banned under the Quebec Labour Code since 1977. It is high time that it was banned at the federal level.

I join my voice to those of the workers at Unifor, who launched a campaign on May 13 for the enactment of federal anti-scab legislation. It is high time to address this injustice and join the 21st century.

Topic and context

Main Estimates Finance Canada (Committee of the Whole)

Platform

Raised a question on EI Reform House of Commons

Date

May 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion said something rather disturbing recently. She said it would take 7 years to reform the EI program because the computer system could not support it. In another life, I used to say that sometimes you have to make what is politically desirable technically possible. It is politically desirable to reform the employment insurance system, which leaves workers in seasonal industries, women and young people out in the cold. If we want this to be just temporary, we have to improve these temporary measures, at least.

Topic and context
  • OAS Increase
  • Elder Abuse
Platform

HUMA Seniors Minister and ESDC

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

Questioned if any studies were done on the impact of the pandemic on seniors aged 65 to 74, and asked for data the Government used to draw a distinction between expenses for seniors expenses over and under age the age of 75. ESDC confirmed that the work was conducted based on the Minister’s mandate, being for seniors aged 75 and older.

Asked about policies on action plans that exist in the provinces for elder abuse and if the Government thought about consulting the provinces so that they could assume the responsibility.

Topic and context
  • Long-term Care Standards
  • PHAC pandemic guidance
  • OAS Increase
Platform

HUMA Seniors study kick-off mtg.

Date

May 13, 2021

Statements/quotes

Reminded of the BQ position, which remains against the Government imposing any long-term care standards on provinces. In addition, they have renewed calls for additional health transfers to provinces.

Sought opinions on PHAC not having updated guidance prior to pandemic, and how we could have been better preparation and reduced the level of death and injury.

Sought opinions on financial security for seniors and on the government’s proposal to increase OAS for seniors 75 and older.

Topic and context

BIA 2021 (C-30) Division on Minimum Wage increase

Platform

House of Commons

Date

May 11, 2021

Statements/quotes

The Minister of Labour is implementing a mandate commitment to amend the Canada Labour Code to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. This is a good signal for workers.

With respect to contract flipping, the Canada Labour Code will include the word "airport". This was an important demand for workers in the airport sector. However, it is a half-measure because it would only protect wages. We must go further and protect working conditions, union recognition, insurance plans and pension plans.

Topic and context

Bill C-29, Back to Work Legislation (Port of Montreal)

Platform

House of Commons

Date
  1. April 28, 2021
  2. April 29, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. The Bloc Québécois is all about finding solutions. We are not voting no just to be contrary, and we are not voting no for ideological reasons. We are voting no because this is not the right solution. What is happening is quite a harsh solution, because we, as parliamentarians, are denying workers their rights. There are other solutions.
  2. Those in favour of heavy-handed back-to-work legislation often claim that it will improve the social climate. I think the opposite is true.
  3. Ensuring peace requires balance, and workers, along with unions, play a major role in social justice and balance.
  4. How can the government justify saying that this special legislation will ensure a balance of power between the parties?
Topic and context

Bill C-265. An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (illness, injury or quarantine) BQ Bill, Claude DeBellefeuille.

  • at dissolution, the Bill was reported back without amendment from committee
Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 19, 2021

Statements/quotes

Do we want to be seen as a society that abandons the most vulnerable, or as a fairer and more equitable society, one that provides support and comfort and is compassionate and humanitarian towards workers and the sick? It is with the latter image in mind that I ask for the unanimous support of the House for this bill to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 50 weeks. Not only is it a question of fairness, but it will allow people to take care of themselves with dignity.

Topic and context

Order Paper Question No. 421 (Canada Summer Jobs)

Platform

Written Question

Date

April 12, 2021

Statements/quotes

With regard to the Canada Summer Jobs program: (a) for each of the 338 ridings in Canada, how much money, how many positions and how many hours of work were requested for fiscal year 2019 to 20, (b) for each of the 338 ridings in Canada, how much money, how many positions and how many hours of work were allocated for fiscal year 2019 to 20, (c) what is, in mathematical terms, and defining all variables, the formula that was used in fiscal year 2019to 20 to determine the funding allocated to each riding, and (d) what is the share of overall funding, expressed both as a percentage and in dollars, that has been allocated to ridings in Quebec, broken down by fiscal year, since 2015 to 16?

Topic and context
  • permanent EI measures
  • Canada Summer Jobs program
  • training and skills
Platform

HUMA study of Estimates

Date

March 16, 2021

Statements/quotes

Will there be permanent EI measures starting in September or will there be strengthened measures, and how did you determine the amounts?

Will additional funding be provided for the Canada Summer Jobs program?

Are there any substantial measures to help disabled individuals aside from the amounts they received up until now?

Training and skills has decreased by $20 million in the Main Estimates. It’s essential to have literacy skills.

Topic and context

New mothers and EI

Platform

Oral Questions

Date

December 7, 2020

Statements/quotes

Madam Speaker, this was already a problem before the pandemic. It is unacceptable that new mothers are not entitled to EI if they lose their employment at the end of their parental leave. They are workers like any other and deserve to be supported. In some cases, it is already possible to count weeks worked in the past 2 years instead of the past year in order to qualify for EI. That is the case for prisoners. Will the government do the same for new mothers?

The problem is that EI has never been adapted to the Quebec parental insurance plan. The mothers being abandoned by the federal government are Quebeckers. Because Quebec is feminist and has a more generous program so that Quebec women can balance work and family, Quebec women are being abandoned when they lose their job. This government claims to be feminist. Will it fix EI so that it stops penalizing mothers who are benefiting from a feminist parental leave program?

Topic and context

Reply in the Speech From the Throne

Platform

House of Commons

Date

October 6, 2020

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, my question relates to some of the member's comments on the throne speech.

He talked about numerous solutions introduced to transition from the CERB to a more flexible employment insurance system or to the 3 new economic recovery measures. He and I both know that these measures are temporary because they are only going to last a year.

Here is my question. Will the government commit here and now to completely overhauling our employment insurance system? It is Canadians' primary social safety net, and it failed during this crisis.

Topic and context

Government Business No. 1 (Emergency COVID Measures)

Platform

House of Commons

Date

September 28, 2020

Statements/quotes

In my speech, I wanted to show that even before the CERB was introduced, we knew that the main social safety net, the EI program, would not meet needs in the event of a crisis. The program has been slashed repeatedly by government after government over the past 25 years. If we had taken the time to have this conversation, we would not be in the situation we are in today, neither when the CERB was active nor today.

Topic and context

EI Seasonal Workers – on making the pilot project permanent and improve it by reducing the eligibility threshold to 420 hours

Platform

Question Period

Date

February 28, 2020

Statements/quotes

Madam Speaker, the work is seasonal, but the workers' needs are not.

EI needs to become a true insurance plan for the families in Quebec's regions that depend on seasonal industries. It is also important that the eligibility criteria reflect the reality in those regions. Workers should qualify after 420 hours of work, and benefits should be based on the workers' 12 best weeks. This would improve the pilot project.

Will the government make its project permanent and adapt it to people's reality?

Topic and context

Opposition Motion—Special Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits

Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 18, 2020

Statements/quotes

This is a motion we need to adopt, but the EI system needs a complete overhaul. There are other types of benefits, such as those for seasonal workers. In the previous Parliament, the government promised to overhaul the system, which has not seen substantial change in 40 years. An in-depth study could be done in committee, but I think we can take action now on sickness benefits without pilfering from the fund.

Sylvie Bérubé Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou (Québec) Bloc Critic for Families, Children and Social Development

Topic and context

Resource centre for people with disabilities

Platform

House of Commons

Statements by Members

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, La Ressource is an organization in my riding that does amazing work helping people with disabilities maintain everything they have achieved and take full advantage of the financial resources available to them.

To keep providing these services, La Ressource needs money and relies on various funding sources, including donations. All year long, it organizes fundraisers and events. Fortunately, the organization can count on people like Pierre Tremblay to help reach its goal.

A few weeks ago, Mr. Tremblay kicked off an event in collaboration with Domaine du Lac Parent, a virtual fishing tournament to raise money for La Ressource's telethon. People from all over Abitibi—Témiscamingue and elsewhere were invited to send in a photo of their catch for a chance to win a prize.

In closing, I am appealing to the generosity of people in my region. I invite them to donate to La Ressource in honour of its 25th anniversary so it can help as many people as possible.

Topic and context
  • seniors
  • GIS claw back
  • OAS Increase
Platform

House of Commons

Government Business No. 7 - proceedings on Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (GIS)

Date

February 11, 2022

Statements/quotes

I just want to point out that seniors were the first to be affected by the pandemic. This came at a time when they were isolated, living with anxiety and losing money.

There were also the retired nurses and health care professionals who decided to return to work but whose GIS payments were clawed back as a result.

I could also talk about the 2 classes of seniors this government has created: those aged 65 to 74, who have been abandoned to live in financial insecurity, and those aged 75 and up, who have been recognized by the government.

What does the member think we could do with this bill to address these 2 classes of seniors?

Topic and context
  • inflation
  • child Care
  • affordable Housing
Platform

House of Commons Reply to the SFT

Date

December 2, 2021

Statements/quotes

As everyone knows we are currently batting inflation. There are 2 solutions right now, specifically, child care and affordable housing. What is the government doing? It seems to be dragging its feet.

What do you plan to do to help this situation, to help families buy their first home? Will you, the government, finally do something to fight inflations?

Topic and context

Often speaks on Indigenous rights, including on the sex trafficking of Indigenous peoples, systematic discrimination, and Indigenous rights

Platform

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee

Date
  1. June 17th, 2021
  2. June 15th, 2021
  3. June 10th, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. “I'm going to continue along the same lines as Mr. Powlowski. You talked about colonization, systemic discrimination and support for communities.”
  2. “According to your research, what can we do to better support communities in response to human trafficking?”
  3. “The article does not mention indigenous women and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Can you give us any data on human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation?”
  4. “Minister, in Winneway, Chief Steeve Mathias has been negotiating with the federal government for several years to have his community recognized as a reserve within the meaning of the Indian Act. Even though no one here likes that act and it is kind of a perfect example of systematic discrimination, it has to be admitted that such recognition could allow the community to get better funding and to get public utilities. In this case, the problem revolves around the Oblate lands.”
Platform

House of Commons – Debates

Date

May 12th, 2021

Statements/quotes

“Experience shows that lack of consent to project development is often the cause of indigenous crises. That is what happened with the Oka crisis and again this winter with the Wet'suwet'en.”

Andréanne Larouche (Québec, Shefford) BQ Critic: Seniors, Status of Women, Gender Equality

Topic and context

EI - parental leave

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

March 4, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, at the moment, it just looks cheap.

The minister cannot hide behind the commission. It is up to Parliament to amend legislation, as the commission itself pointed out. It is entirely the minister's responsibility.

There are exceptions to the law that allow people claiming EI to calculate their income over 2 years rather than 52 weeks. People who cannot work because they are sick, injured or incarcerated are entitled to this.

Why are new mothers who have lost their jobs not entitled to the same thing? It seems pretty simple to me.

Topic and context

EI - parental leave

Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

March 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

Mr. Speaker, this is embarrassing. During the week of March 8, a day when we celebrate women's rights, this government, which claims to be feminist, is in court to retain the right to deny employment insurance to new mothers who lose their jobs. Let us just think about that for a moment. I could not even make this stuff up.

Women had to sue the Canada Employment Insurance Commission because the government has refused to correct the situation for years. Even though the women won, this government wants to appeal. Because of this government, they have to continue to fight. Is this the fight that a self-proclaimed feminist government should be waging today?

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-8

Date

February 3, 2022

Statements/quotes

As early as August, the Bloc Québécois wrote to the Minister of Seniors to denounce the cuts to the GIS for seniors who received the CERB. What does my colleague think of the proposal to provide assistance to seniors and increase OAS from the age of 65?

Topic and context
  • vulnerable Seniors
  • GIS claw back
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

December 16, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-2.

It has been announced that the loss of income from SRG by seniors due to the fact that they received CERB will not be settled until next May. Seniors are impoverished more than ever in the light of Christmas. May is too far away.

Seniors on GIS are the most vulnerable seniors and waiting until May to offer them compensation means they won't have any flexibility for months.

Poverty does not wait 75 years. OAS must be increased from age 65

The government is in denial about the financial situation of seniors. Spot checks are not enough. It is necessary to set up recurrent and reliable aid from the age of 65.

Topic and context
  • OAS Increase
  • supports for Seniors and inflation
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 10, 2021

Statements/quotes

There are too many seniors being left behind. The government is refusing to help those under 75 and attacking working seniors getting the guaranteed income supplement or GIS. It's cutting benefits for those who lost their jobs in the pandemic and who got CERB. We have the figures. We're talking about more than 183,000 seniors who will have to lose $3,500 on average. The government is cutting all of the GIS for 83,000 people. 83,000 people who are going to be in a precarious financial situation while food costs are exploding. Why is the government attacking those who are most vulnerable?

We learned yesterday that groceries will increase by 7% next year. It being it will cost nearly $1000 more for a family. This is extremely bad news also for seniors between the ages of 65 and 74. And the government is refusing to increase the old age security for them. With the increase in prices they're creating 2 classes of seniors. Literally forcing people to take groceries out of their cart and putting them back on the shelves and go line up for a Christmas basket. What will it take for the government to understand that it needs to increase the pension for all seniors?

Topic and context
  • GIS claw back
  • CERB/Employment Insurance
Platform

House of Commons Oral Questions

Date

December 1, 2021

Statements/quotes

The lowest paid seniors have been plunged in to poverty by Ottawa. Those who lost their job during the pandemic and who had to claim the CERB are getting their GIS clawed back because CERB benefits are treated differently from employment income even though they're supposed to do just that, replace employment income. For example, for the same $10,000 in income, a worker who would have had 100 clawed back from the GIS now loses over 400. That is $300 less per month. Will the prime minister fix this injustice?

The Bloc alerted the ministers of seniors and finance months ago. Nothing has been done. The Prime Minister has to get involved. The CERB should be treated like employment income and all seniors should be allowed to have their benefits recalculated based on their current income. It is simple. This administrative mess is plunging people into poverty. And some are suffering a decline in their health. There are even some seniors who are having to choose which of their medications to skip because they can no longer afford them. Is the prime minister going to take charge of this file?

Topic and context

Debate on C-2

Platform

House of Commons

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

I would like to hear my colleague come back to the issue of seniors. The government is sending the wrong message to seniors by cutting the GIS for seniors who have worked and those who have received the CERB (translated)

Topic and context
  • BQ commitments related to seniors
  • in the previous parliament, Ms. Larouche was been one of the most active Opposition MPs in the House of Commons on the matter of senior care, in particular on the issue of OAS and GIS
Platform

BQ Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Reclaim the hike of health transfers for the provinces. It reminds the provinces to insist on making health transfers cover 35% of provincial health expenses instead of 22%. That increase would add around $30 billion of expenses to the federal budget. The Bloc argues that without these changes, provincial budgets will remain unsustainable.

Proposes to increase old age security to $110/month, indexed, and to abolish some discriminatory restrictions against people who marry after 60. These measures would add over $7 billion a year to federal government costs.

Proposes a tax credit for caregivers that would cost about $650 million a year.

As part of a proposed package of measures to fight the labour shortage, the BQ will propose measures to encourage the work of seniors with their invaluable expertise, by allowing low-income seniors to work more without penalty and by involving Aboriginal nations, in addition to encouraging the settlement of newcomers and graduates in the regions.

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons

Date

June 22, 2021

Statements/quotes

The increase in OAS from age 65 is a request from seniors and the Bloc Québécois. Precariousness does not wait 75 years to strike the elders.

Topic and context

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Platform

House of Commons Statements by Members

Date

June 15, 2021

Statements/quotes

“It is an opportunity to speak out about the suffering that some seniors experience. It’s a problem that tends to be under-diagnosed. Many people suffer abuse and mistreatment, but they do not even identify their situation and are afraid of reprisals if they report their abusers.

Therefore, June 15 is an ideal opportunity to raise public awareness of this social issue, to encourage people to recognize it and to prevent all forms of elder abuse. The 7 types of abuse include physical, psychological and financial abuse, as well as ageism.

We know that COVID‑19 has caused a lot of isolation and additional financial stress for seniors. In addition to being the main victims of the health crisis, they were at increased risk of poverty and age discrimination. Seniors have the same rights as all other citizens, and we must allow them to age with care, compassion and dignity.”

Topic and context
  • OAS Increase
  • budget 2021 included a permanent increase of 10% to the OAS pension, to be implemented in July 2022 for seniors aged 75 and over. The measure has been criticized by opposition parties saying the increase should be for all seniors
Platform

HUMA

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

While replacing Louise Chabot at HUMA, expressed much frustration over the OAS increase not extended to seniors aged 65 to 74, arguing that in order to age well at home, younger seniors need the financial support.

“Madam Minister, seniors are still angry. What you are proposing is clearly not good enough for them. I have heard you talk about aging with dignity. But seniors' groups, including FADOQ in my community, are telling me that, in order to age with dignity, to live and not just survive, the old age security pension for all seniors must be increased as soon as they turn 65.

You said yourself that their savings are depleted. That happens from the time they stop working, which is at 65. You talked about the number of people working, but there are also people not working. Do you know what it would cost to give people the 10% increase in the old age security pension at age 65 instead of age 75? Do you have any figures on that?”

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons

Date

May 6, 2021

Statements/quotes

I would remind you that my party will vote for this Bill C-30 at second reading.

We are calling for an increase in OAS for seniors from 65 years of age. There is unanimity of frustration among seniors over the government's choice to create 2 senior classes.

The monthly increase of $63 in OAS is insufficient, and it will not be implemented until 2022. The BQ is more in favor of an increase of $110 per month.

A one-time payment of $ 500 will be paid to seniors over 75 in August 2021, but this is an election approach and seniors are not fooled.

Financial vulnerability does not wait 75 years and OAS should be a universal power for all seniors.

Increasing OAS for all seniors would have cost only $4 billion more.

Topic and context
  • child Care
  • provincial jurisdictions
Platform

House of Commons

Date

May 6, 2021

Statements/quotes

The expenditure authorization for the daycare services program does not appear to be valid until the next fiscal year. Is it a question of being able to cover the costs of establishing and improving the childcare program while awaiting the signing of asymmetric agreements with the provinces?

Any agreement with Quebec on the issue of child care must be accompanied by unconditional compensation for the total costs of the program measures

There are attempts in this budget to interfere with the provincial government. In Quebec, we have developed expertise on the issue of day care centers and we do not need this interference.

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons

Date
  1. April 22, 2021
  2. April 21, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. The government maintains its election commitment to only increase OAS allowances for seniors over 75. This increase will not be applied until 2022, when the only new amount planned for 2021 is a one-time payment of $500 this summer.
  2. It is important to increase the number of residential models providing care for the elderly. I urge caution, because what is currently being proposed by the government is to impose standards on Quebec when it comes under provincial jurisdiction.
  3. I would like my colleague to tell Quebec seniors frankly that seniors aged 65 to 74 have received sufficient federal assistance and tell them that they are not vulnerable enough to get help in a future budget.
  4. How can this member from Quebec ignore the demands of the elders of Quebec? What do they think of the fact that FADOQ deplores the fact that seniors aged 65 to 74 are also vulnerable and will not receive the increase in OAS before the age of 75. Why are seniors under 75 excluded from the one-time payment of $500?
  5. Stéphane Lauzon (LPC) responded: I am proud to be a member of Parliament from Quebec and the 2021 budget will help seniors a lot. I have met FADOQ and AQDR and I can tell you that they are very happy with the progress we are making. FADOQ also told us that any gesture to help seniors is welcome.
Topic and context
  • Health Transfers
  • Long-term Care
Platform

House of Commons

Date

March 22, 2021

Statements/quotes

National standards are dictated by the federal government and long-term care does not apply to this level of government. We have seen a decline in health transfers for years.

Topic and context

Implementation of the Pay Equity Act

Platform

FEWO Pay Equity study

Date
  1. February 04, 2021
  2. February 25, 2021
Statements/quotes
  1. Took a keen interest in the status of pay equity in federally regulated workplaces, focussing on economic recovery and the extent to which pay equity in the government sector is expected to influence pay equity in the private sector.
  2. Concerned with the delays with the implementation of the Act, asked how the government decided on 3 years for employers do develop a pay equity plan. She asked how stereotypes and myths may have delayed the implementation of the Act, and questioned what tools and guidelines are available for employers to develop plans, educational tools and training.
  3. Stated her support for the bill moving forward.
  4. Sought solutions from ESDC to accelerate the timelines and the process to implement pay equity in federally regulated workplaces.
Topic and context
  • vulnerable seniors affected by the pandemic
  • OAS Increase
  • GIS
  • federal government standards for long-term care
Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

We note that the elderly have been the people most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We also recall that too many seniors live in financial precariousness.

We are calling on the government to increase the OAS pension to $ 110 for people 65 and over as of the next budget.

During the 2019 election campaign, the Liberal Party pledged to increase OAS benefit amounts by 10% for seniors 75 and over. Nothing has been done and we consider this proposal to be insufficient. Poverty does not wait 75 years.

The OAS program is the federal government's primary vehicle for supporting seniors. The 2 main components are the OAS and the GIS. A recipient of these benefits would have an income of less than $18,648.

The problem is twofold. The amounts of seniors' pensions are so low that they condemn anyone who has only this income to live on to be pushed below the poverty line. As of October 2020, an individual receiving OAS and the maximum amount of GIS will have an annual income of $18,358.92. It’s a minimal substance that barely hits living costs.

The indexation of benefits is not representative of the cost of living of seniors, who have to face expenses separate from current products which are taken into account to keep up with inflation.

A good percentage of elders work, especially for older women, which illustrates the need for the reforms requested. This shows that the current benefit amounts are insufficient.

FADOQ people consider the government's small increase in OAS as insulting.

The Bloc Québécois is asking for the GIS of $50 per month for individuals and $70 for couples.

Yes, there was a one-time payment of $300 for those collecting OAS and yes, there was a GST and HST credit, but these measures were only one-off. We need lasting measures.

Indexing existed before the pandemic.

Seniors are severely isolated and more at risk.

Seniors do not want national standards imposed on CHSLDs (centres d’hébergement de soins de longue durée).

When will you get vaccines for seniors from 65?

Seniors must have more decent incomes and have their purchasing power increased.

The governments of Quebec and Ontario do not want federal standards for long-term care.

Topic and context

Federal government standards for long-term care

Platform

House of Commons

Date

December 1, 2020

Statements/quotes

These are not national standards that CHSLD staff really need. They need more resources.

Topic and context
  • health transfers to provinces
  • care for disabled persons
Platform

House of Commons

Date

November 27, 2020

Statements/quotes

Isn't the issue of lack of care for people with disabilities linked to the lack of funds transferred to the provinces by the federal government?

Topic and context

Support for seniors

Platform

House of Commons

Date

October 20, 2020

Statements/quotes

Women were hard hit by the pandemic - especially senior women. We have a motion to incorporate the work we did in the summer and now the government wants to go to the polls. Why not let us do our work on the WE scandal so we can get to other important work?

Topic and context

OAS Increase

Platform

House of Commons

Date

September 23, 2020

Statements/quotes

Why not increase old age security from age 65 rather than from age 75 so as not to create 2 senior classes? During the pandemic, the only support measure for seniors was a one-time payment. We want an increase from age 65. Why 75 years?

Topic and context

Disability support payments

Platform

House of Commons

Date

July 20, 2020

Statements/quotes

Last month, the Bloc Québécois proposed splitting Bill C-17 to provide people with disabilities with financial support. Does the member agree that it is too bad that the refusal of elected Conservatives to vote for this measure delayed this support?

(Cheryl Grant (CPC): It was the Liberal’s attempt to force other legislation within C-17 that stopped it from getting our support.)

Topic and context

Support for seniors

Platform

House of Commons

Date

June 15, 2020

Statements/quotes

Improving the purchasing power of seniors decreases their chances of being abused. That is why increases in old age pensions and GIS must be extended beyond the pandemic. In 3 weeks, seniors will receive a first check when they should receive a second. We must also announce a date for the “New Horizons” program.

Topic and context

Tax free payments to OAS and GIS recipients

Platform

House of Commons

Date

May 19, 2020

Statements/quotes

The aid announced by the government to help seniors has several issues that raise questions. Are the one-off payments of $200 and $300 taxable, therefore included in the old age pension program, or will they take the form of a non-taxable tax credit? We also want to know when the check will arrive. (Min. Deb Schulte: It’s a tax-free payment made to OAS and GIS recipients.)

Can the government assure us that it intends to improve the GIS supplement so as not to penalize beneficiaries who have received the additional old age pension payments next year? (Min. Deb Schulte: Those that are already on the GIS did receive a top-up. I also want to say that seniors that are on the OAS and GIS will receive a tax-free payment soon.)

Topic and context

OAS and GIS

Platform

House of Commons

Date

April 29, 2020

Statements/quotes

Financial challenges faced by seniors, especially for women even before the pandemic. Will the government agree to increase OAS, including a GIS boost?

Seniors are the most vulnerable during the pandemic. Will the Government commit to increase the health transfer?

Seniors living at home struggle financially and during the pandemic, their expenses also increase but are on fixed income. Will the Government commit to help them and increase their benefit by $110?

Topic and context

Employment Insurance

Platform

House of Commons

Date

February 18, 2020

Statements/quotes

The coalition of the sans-shirts calls on the government to go further in its reform of employment insurance.

The coalition also called for an increase in the number of weeks of sickness benefits.

Seven bills have been introduced to address this problem, but nothing has changed yet.

Agrees with Alexandre Boulerice's suggestion to consider hours worked over a longer period when a woman has recently been on maternity leave in order to compensate for the weeks that have just been used.

The choice of 50 weeks is based on the principle of equity

Kristina Michaud (Quebec, AvignonLa MitisMatane - Matapédia) BQ Critic: Climate change, Youth, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Topic and context

EI Reform

Platform

House of Commons Reply to the SFT

Date

January 31, 2022

Statements/quotes

Processing times for EI applications are too long. However, I was pleased to learn that more resources would be allocated to Service Canada to deal with this problem.

Reform of the EI program is needed.

Many citizens contact me because of EI delays. People are in distress and it is our responsibility to offer these people solutions. (translated)

Topic and context

Youth and COP26 (translated)

Platform

Twitter

Date

Nov 12, 2021

Statements/quotes

Really a pleasure to have met the youth delegates of @YMCAQuebec whose participation in #COP26 was made possible thanks to @AQOCI. Great talk. (translated)

Topic and context
  • Child Care
  • OAS Increase
Platform

House of Commons Debate on BIA, 2021

Date

May 25, 2021

Statements/quotes

When I see all the different Canada-wide programs that are being announced, such as the national child care program, I realize that it may be good news for the provinces that do not have this type of program. However, Québec already has a day care program.

The government is increasing pensions for seniors aged 75 and over, but only by roughly $60. a month, which we think is not enough. We in the Bloc Québécois have been asking for an increase of $110. per month, and we will continue to lead that debate.

Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Québec, Terrebonne) BQ Critic: Public Accounts and Pandemic programs

Topic and context

Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (GIS)

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-12

Date

February 15, 2022

Statements/quotes

The Bloc Québécois has always supported targeted assistance programs that respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that the Liberal government failed to be proactive. We voted for Bill C-12, which was hastily passed in the fall, in order to quickly help the groups most affected by this pandemic. One of our conditions for supporting that bill was that Ottawa stop penalizing working seniors who receive the guaranteed income supplement, or GIS, by treating the Canada emergency response benefit, or CERB, as employment income for the purpose of calculating the GIS.

At the parliamentary committee, the Minister of Finance even admitted that this was a significant problem, but, like senior officials of the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA, she stated that it was a complex issue that would be difficult to resolve because of the computer system. She nonetheless made a commitment to resolve it.

Here we are today with a bill that would finally correct this injustice being inflicted on our seniors, but that is still disappointing on several counts.

First of all, this bill will ensure that GIS recipients will not be penalized as of July 2022. This may sound good at first glance, but this substantial reduction of their cheques has been going on since July 1, 2021. These seniors have been watching their finances worsen since last summer. Our party made several proposals to the government, urging it to act quickly to ensure that the recipients affected can obtain relief as quickly as possible—as of March 2022, as my colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue hammered home. The government said that this was not possible for technical reasons, more specifically because of computer issues at the CRA. These so-called “computer issues” are pretty surprising for a G7 country.

Furthermore, Bill C-12 does not include the retroactive one-time payment that the government promised in the December 2021 economic statement as compensation for the reductions that have already been made. We unfortunately do not have details on how the payment will be calculated, but we hope that it will be paid automatically and that the seniors affected will not have to do anything at all. One thing is for sure, seniors have had to wait far too long for this compensation and for their full benefits to be restored. The government only made the announcement on December 17, 2021, in a news release that stated the following:

The CERB and the CRB were designed to provide financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians directly affected by COVID-19. The Government of Canada recognizes that some GIS and Allowance recipients are now facing lower benefit payments this year because of the income they received from these pandemic benefits.

It took the government several months, way too long, to admit there had been a mistake, and now it is taking way too long to act. It is deeply disrespectful to these senior workers who have been impacted by this problem since July. The problem is affecting their financial resources and their ability to buy essentials.

What is really disappointing is that the government is once again attacking a deeply vulnerable population. Everyone knew CERB was taxable income, but when people's income is low enough to qualify for GIS, they do not pay much tax. For GIS beneficiaries who collected CERB, the problem is a simple one. For every CERB dollar they got, the federal government would claw back 50 cents from their GIS. That amounts to a federal tax rate of 50%. We can all agree that is too high.

It is important to note that no one in the federal government informed GIS recipients that their CERB income would literally melt away their GIS benefits. The Bloc Québécois sees this as a major injustice that constitutes prejudicial and appalling treatment. The FADOQ network described the situation as a tragedy. Compensation is urgently needed. The government has known this for a long time, but has not acted accordingly.

Need I remind members of the huge inflationary surge that occurred in 2021? The inflation rate in December was 4.8%, the highest it has been in over 35 years. Prices went up even more for many essential goods. Grocery prices rose by 5.7% year over year, the largest increase in a decade, while housing prices rose by 9.3% relative to December 2020.

It is the most vulnerable, especially people living on fixed incomes, such as seniors, who feel the greatest impact. It is outrageous that the government is doing this to our seniors.

Another big disappointment is that Bill C-12 will not end the inequity between GIS recipients who applied for CERB through the CRA and those who applied at Service Canada. It is important to remember that CERB was administered by the Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada.

In certain circumstances, when pension income is reduced from 1 year to the next, claimants may request that their benefits be recalculated on the basis of an estimate of their income for the current calendar year. This is known as the “GIS option”.

We have criticized the fact the “GIS option” is available only to claimants who received CERB through Service Canada, not those who received it through the Canada Revenue Agency.

Indeed, only CERB benefits issued by Service Canada have been legally constituted as EI and are eligible for a “GIS option” review. CERB should be treated the same for all GIS calculating purposes, whether it was issued by Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency.

Pandemic-related assistance programs were brought in quickly. However, by the summer of 2021, in other words 15 months after the pandemic began, there were no more excuses for the government to keep reproducing this inconsistency to the detriment of seniors. The government should have used the bill to correct this gap, but clearly it missed the boat yet again.

In conclusion, the COVID 19 pandemic has affected a lot of people and businesses since the beginning of 2020, but that is nothing compared to the consequences it has had on the senior population with respect to both their physical and mental health, as well as their financial health.

The government is offering a solution that can be described as too little, too late. Once again, that shows that the government is MIA when it is time to help seniors. I would remind the House that this is the same government that chose to create 2 classes of seniors by increasing OAS only for those 75 and up.

Let us not forget that financial insecurity does not wait for a person to turn 75 to strike. To fix the problem, the Bloc Québécois has proposed that the OAS be increased by $110 a month for all seniors 65 and up. What do the Liberals propose?

They propose a 1 time, non-recurring cheque for $500 for seniors who will be 75 or older as of June 2022. Pre-election smoke and mirrors: such is the Liberal way of governing. With that decision, the Liberals are sending a very negative message to the 970,000 pensioners in Quebec aged 65 to 74, telling them that they do not matter.

In my opinion, Bill C-12, as presented and without the changes proposed by the Bloc Québécois, demonstrates that the government is ignoring the most vulnerable seniors, and that is deeply disappointing. When we watch what this Liberal government is doing, we have the impression that it is downplaying the problem and expecting it to fix itself, which seems to be the norm recently.

We have before us a bill that does seek to fix a problematic situation, but it is flawed. We expected better from the government, after it took so long to address such a serious situation. The people who spent their lives building the society in which we live today deserve more respect from the federal government. The Bloc Québécois will always be there to stand up for seniors.

Topic and context

Bill C-2, An Act tot Provide Further Support in Response to COVID 19

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 29, 2021

Statements/quotes

Madam Speaker, we welcome the fact that the tourism and hospitality sectors were included in Bill C-2. However, the bill does not currently cover upstream industries in the supply chains of those sectors, such as aircraft or bus manufacturers, or those that manufacture goods for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

My question is this: Do you think that the list currently included in Bill C 2 is exhaustive?

Topic and context
  • Support for Seniors
  • OAS Increase for only those 75 and older
Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

The Bloc Québécois is very concerned about seniors. The Bloc Québécois is fighting to put an end to the 2 age groups being used to determine eligibility of the benefits. As members know, the pandemic hit seniors hard, in terms of both finances and their health.

Topic and context

EI Reform

Platform

House of Commons Debate on Bill C-2

Date

November 26, 2021

Statements/quotes

The self-employed in the field of culture are the great forgotten of this law. They are no longer covered by the emergency measures.

The Bloc Québécois is also very concerned about the labor shortage. Although this situation existed before the crisis, we know that certain measures such as the PCRE have aggravated this situation. That is why we are calling for more targeted measures, because we still need to help workers in hardest hit sectors.

The government is sending mixed signals by abandoning certain sections of the population. I would add that the Bloc Québécois has been asking for a reform of Employment Insurance for a long time. We need to have a system that is accessible to self-employed people.

The Bloc Québécois is campaigning for there to be no more 2 sections of seniors. We want to study the bill in committee to address these issues.(translated)

Topic and context

BQ commitments related to pandemic programs

Platform

BQ Platform

Date

Fall 2021 Campaign

Statements/quotes

Proposes improvements t the EI program, offering coverage to self-employed workers and improved coverage for seasonal workers.

Topic and context

Initiatives and Programs for Entrepreneurs

Platform

Interview with news outlet

Date

October 22, 2021

Statements/quotes

“One thing I'd like to see is more targeted initiatives and programs for entrepreneurs, for businesspeople. I think they've received a lot of help, but actually some of the help was counterproductive,”

“The wage subsidy is one thing, but then on the other hand, the individual help that some people are receiving is actually making the shortage of workers even worse.

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