HUMA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 25

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Ed Komarnicki, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Brad Butt, Jean Crowder, Rodger Cuzner, Joe Daniel, Carol Hughes, Ed Komarnicki, Kellie Leitch, Colin Mayes, Claude Patry, Manon Perreault and Devinder Shory.

Acting Members present: Corneliu Chisu for Phil McColeman.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: André Léonard, Analyst.

Witnesses: Canadian Nuclear Association: John Stewart, Director, Policy and Research. Vale Canada Ltd.: Wayne Scott, General Manager, Human Resources Processes; Ryan Land, Manager, Corporate Affairs. Saskatchewan Mining Association: Pamela Schwann, Executive Director; Gary Merasty, Member.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 17, 2011, the Committee resumed its study “Skills Development in Remote Rural Communities in an Era of Fiscal Restraint”.

John Stewart, Wayne Scott, Pamela Schwann and Gary Merasty made statements and, with Ryan Land, answered questions.

At 4:40 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:46 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 and on Monday, April 2, 2012, the Committee hear from witnesses from national organizations experiencing science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills shortages in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, on Wednesday, April 4 and Monday, April 23, 2012, the Committee hear from witnesses from national organizations experiencing shortages in the digital skills field in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, during the week of Monday, April 30 to Friday, May 4, 2012, the Committee travel to Montréal, Halifax, Port Hawkesbury and St. John’s in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”, and; that the sites visits for the Committee include (i) the Irving Shipyard in Halifax, to discuss shipbuilding contracts and the need for skilled labour, (ii) St. John’s to discuss the oil and gas exploration, and (iii) Montréal, to discuss digital skills and the cultural industry, with a focus on the growing animation and software industry.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, on Monday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 9, 2012, the Committee hear from witnesses from national organizations experiencing medical skills shortages in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, on Monday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 16, 2012, the Committee hear from witnesses from national organizations experiencing skilled trades shortages in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, during the week of Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8, 2012, the Committee travel to Whitehorse, Vancouver, Fort McMurray, Estevan and a portion of the 905 corridor in Ontario in relation to its study “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations”, and; that the focus of sites visits in (i) Whitehorse and Estevan be on mining and other natural resource extraction, (ii) Fort McMurray be on technical innovation and engineering solutions for the oil and gas sector, (iii) Vancouver be on digital skills, touring leading research, software development and shipyards.

It was agreed, — That notwithstanding the motions adopted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, between Wednesday, March 7 and Wednesday, April 25, 2012 and between Monday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 30, 2012, Committee members may ask questions relating to the “Understanding Labour Shortages: Addressing Barriers to Filling Low-Skilled Jobs” study to witnesses invited to testify on the “Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High-Demand Occupations” study.

It was agreed, — That during the Committee travel to Montréal, Halifax, Port Hawkesbury and St. John’s, between Monday April 30 and Friday, May 4, 2012 and during the Committee travel to Whitehorse, Vancouver, Fort McMurray, Estevan and a portion of the 905 corridor, between Monday, June 4 and Friday, June 8, 2012, roundtables be held in the visited areas to specifically invite witnesses concerned with the “Understanding Labour Shortages: Addressing Barriers to Filling Low-Skilled Jobs” study.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, prepare a draft budget respecting the Committee's proposed travel to Montreal, Halifax, Port Hawkesbury, St. John’s, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Fort McMurray, Estevan and a portion of the 905 corridor in Ontario, in relation to its studies on labour shortages, for consideration by the Committee.

At 5:12 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Evelyn Lukyniuk
Clerk of the Committee

2012/09/20 3:59 p.m.