MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
October 21, 2004
(Meeting No. 3)
The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 11:03 a.m. this day, in Room 209 West Block, the Chair, Raymonde Folco, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, Eleni Bakopanos, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Barry Devolin, Raymonde Folco, Paul Forseth, Christiane Gagnon, Ed Komarnicki, Tony Martin, Mario Silva and Peter Van Loan.
Acting Members present: Alain Boire for Yves Lessard and Alexa McDonough for Tony Martin.
Associate Members present: Alexa McDonough.
Other Members present: Michel Guimond.
In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Chantal Collin, Analyst; Kevin Kerr, Analyst.
Witnesses: Justice Canada: Suzie Beaulieu, Counsel, SDC/HRSDC Legal Services. Department of Human Resources and Skills Development: Lenore Burton, Director General, Learning and Literacy Directorate; Marc LeBrun, Director, Canada Education Savings Grant Program. Department of Finance: Lise Potvin, Senior Chief, Personal Income Tax Division. Department of Human Resources and Skills Development: Marie-Josée Thivierge, Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Investment Programs. Department of Finance: David Wurtele, Senior Tax Policy Officer, Defered Income Plans.
In accordance with its Order of Reference dated October 14 2004 in relation to Bill C-5, An Act to provide financial assistance for post-secondary education savings, the Committee proceeded to a briefing session.
Marie-Josée Thivierge made an opening statement statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.
At 12:05, the sitting was suspended.
At 12:13, the sitting resumed.
It was agreed, — That, in the future, an application form be available for the Centennial Flame Research Award.
It was agreed, — That Mr. David J. Hains be the recipient of the 2004 Centennial Flamme Research Award.
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
It was agreed, — That the Steering Committee will meet Thursday October 26, 2004 to select the witnesses for the study on Bill C-5.
It was agreed, — That the Canadian Federation of Students, the « Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) », the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the « Fédération québécoise des professeurs et professeures d'université » and the Canadian Alliance of Student Association be invited to appear Thursday October 28th, 2004 on Bill C-5.
It was agreed, — That « Pursuant to Standing Order 108 and the Order of reference contained in the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities study the issue of the Employment Insurance Funds so that the money accumulated is only used for the Employment Insurance Program in the interest of workers and tax payers and that the Committee report back to the House of Commons by June 1, 2005 ».
That the motion be amended by adding after the words « interest of workers and tax payers » the words « by forming a sub-committee charge to undertake this study » and by striking out the words « June 1, 2005» and substituting the words «December 17, 2004 »
By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the following motion: « That the Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee, in conformity with the intentions enounced in the Throne Speech voted and adopted on October 20th, 2004, study and recommend measures that would ensure that all future uses of the employment insurance program would only be for the benefit of workers and not for any other purpose, and report back to the House of Commons on December 17, 2004 at the latest » be withdrawn.
It was agreed, — That the meeting continue until 1:15 p.m.
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to on the following division: YEAS: 7 NAYS: 3
The question being put on the main motion, as amended, it was unanimously agreed to.
At 1:17 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee
December 14, 2004
(Meeting No. 12)
The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met in camera at 11:12 a.m. this day, in Room 209 West Block, the Chair, Raymonde Folco, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Barry Devolin, Raymonde Folco, Paul Forseth, Christiane Gagnon, Ed Komarnicki, Yves Lessard, Mario Silva and Peter Van Loan.
Acting Members present: Yvon Godin for Tony Martin and Derek Lee for Eleni Bakopanos.
In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Kevin Kerr, Analyst.
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of the Report of the Subcommittee on Employment Insurance Funds.
It was agreed, — That the Committee submit a partial report to fulfill the Committee's motion to table a report on Employment Insurance Funds and that the Committee re-visit what is not included in the report in February.
At 1:59 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee
December 14, 2004
(Meeting No. 13)
The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met in camera at 5:07 p.m. this day, in Room 307 West Block, the Chair, Raymonde Folco, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, Eleni Bakopanos, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Barry Devolin, Raymonde Folco, Paul Forseth, Christiane Gagnon, Ed Komarnicki, Yves Lessard and Peter Van Loan.
Acting Members present: Yvon Godin for Tony Martin and Raymond Simard for Mario Silva.
In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Kevin Kerr, Analyst.
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of the Report of the Subcommittee on Employment Insurance Funds.
It was agreed, — That the Committee's partial report include recommendations 1 to 8 inclusive; that the text up to recommendation 8 be tabled, and that the last paragraph of the introduction be substituted with the following: "The Committee has had the opportunity to discuss and adopt the first eight recommendations of the Subcommittee's report which are the main body of this interim Report. The Committee as not yet had the opportunity to consider the balance of the Subcommittee's recommendations which can be found as attached in Appendix A of this Report".
It was agreed, — That recommendations 9 to 28, which have not been voted on, be considered as a matter of priority as soon as the House reconvenes and that additional meetings be scheduled to reach that goal if necessary.
It was agreed, — That the report “Restoring Financial Governance and Accessibility in the Employment Insurance Program - Part 1“ (as amended) of the Subcommittee on Employment Insurance Funds be adopted as the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilites.
It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response to this Report within one hundred and fifty (150) days.
At 5:50 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee
February 8, 2005
(Meeting No. 16)
The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met in camera at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 705 La Promenade Building, the Chair, Raymonde Folco, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, Eleni Bakopanos, Jean-Claude D'Amours, Barry Devolin, Raymonde Folco, Paul Forseth, Christiane Gagnon, Ed Komarnicki, Yves Lessard and Peter Van Loan.
Acting Members present: Yvon Godin for Tony Martin, Dominic LeBlanc for Mario Silva and Denis Paradis for Eleni Bakopanos.
In attendance: Parliamentary Information and Research Service: Kevin Kerr, Analyst.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on October 21, 2004 and December 14, 2004, the Committee resumed its study on the Employment Insurance Funds.
It was agreed, — That the complete Report (including Part 1 that was tabled in December) be tabled in the House.
It was agreed, — That the report “Restoring Financial Governance and Accessibility in the Employment Insurance Program” (as amended) of the Subcommittee on Employment Insurance Funds be adopted as the Third Report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
It was agreed, — That the Clerk be authorized to make such editorial and typographical changes as necessary without changing the substance of the Report.
It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorised to table the Report in the House.
It was agreed, — That the Committee print up to 550 copies of its Report in a bilingual format.
It was agreed, — That, the Committee request that the Government provide a comprehensive response to this Report by May 15, 2005.
It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee authorizes the printing of the dissenting opinion of Conservative Party as an appendix to this report immediately after the signature of the Chair; that the dissenting opinion be limited to not more than 5 pages; (font = 12; line spacing = 1.5) and that the dissenting opinion be delivered in electronic format in both official languages to the Clerk of the Committee not later than twelve noon, Thursday, February 10th, 2005.
At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Danielle Bélisle
Clerk of the Committee