HUMA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Vice-Chair, Ruby Dhalla, presiding.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The Chair called Clause 1.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed immediately to the consideration of the following amendment:

That Bill C-284, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 24 on page 3 the following:

“14.4 Where the government of a province has, at least twelve months before the beginning of a loan year, notified the Minister in writing that it does not wish, or no longer wishes, to participate in the plan established by sections 14.1 to 14.3, the Minister shall pay to the province, not later than six months after the end of that loan year and each following loan year in which it does not participate in the plan, the amount that the Minister would have paid to students in the province for the loan year if the province had participated in the plan.”.

On Clause 1,

“14.4 Where the government of a province has, at least twelve months before the beginning of a loan year, notified the Minister in writing that it does not wish, or no longer wishes, to participate in the plan established by sections 14.1 to 14.3, the Minister shall pay to the province, not later than six months after the end of that loan year and each following loan year in which it does not participate in the plan, the amount that the Minister would have paid to students in the province for the loan year if the province had participated in the plan.”

Debate arose thereon.

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Whereupon, Yves Lessard appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Patrick Brown, Michael D. Chong, Ken Epp, Mike Lake, Geoff Regan, Todd Norman Russell, Michael Savage, Lynne Yelich — 8; NAYS: France Bonsant, Yves Lessard, Denise Savoie — 3.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed immediately to the consideration of the following amendment:

That Bill C-284, in Clause 1, be amended by adding after line 24 on page 3 the following:

“14.4 Every reference in this Act to “to persons pursuant to regulations made under paragraph 15(p)” shall be read as a reference to “to persons pursuant to sections 14.1 to 14.3 and regulations made under paragraph 15(p)”.”.

“14.4 Every reference in this Act to “to persons pursuant to regulations made under paragraph 15(p)” shall be read as a reference to “to persons pursuant to sections 14.1 to 14.3 and regulations made under paragraph 15(p)”.”

Debate arose thereon.

A point of order was raised regarding the procedural admissibility of the proposed amendment.

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment admissible.

Whereupon, Lynne Yelich appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: France Bonsant, Michael D. Chong, Rodger Cuzner, Mike Lake, Yves Lessard, Geoff Regan, Michael Savage, Denise Savoie — 8; NAYS: Patrick Brown, Ken Epp, Lynne Yelich — 3.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the amendment of Geoff Regan and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Rodger Cuzner, Geoff Regan, Michael Savage, Denise Savoie — 4; NAYS: France Bonsant, Patrick Brown, Michael D. Chong, Ken Epp, Mike Lake, Yves Lessard, Lynne Yelich — 7.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

“(d) has never completed a program of studies described in paragraph (b);”

The question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

“(2) Subject to subsection (2.1), the amount of a grant made in a loan year to a qualifying student shall not exceed the least of

(a) the qualifying student’s assessed need;

(b) 50% of the student’s tuition; and

(c) a base amount of $3,000, adjusted annually to reflect the average increase in tuition at designated educational institutions in Canada during the previous two calendar years, as calculated in accordance with statistics compiled by Statistics Canada.

(2.1) The amount of a grant made in a loan year to a qualifying student who is a person in respect of whom a national child benefit supplement, or a special allowance under the Children’s Special Allowances Act, is payable, or would be payable if the person was less than eighteen years of age, shall not exceed the least of

(a) the qualifying student’s assessed need;

(b) 100% of the student’s tuition; and

(c) a base amount of $7,000, adjusted annually to reflect the average increase in tuition at designated educational institutions in Canada during the previous two calendar years, as calculated in accordance with statistics compiled by Statistics Canada.”

The question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

“(c) a base amount of $3,000, adjusted annually to reflect the average increase in tuition at designated educational institutions in Canada during the previous two calendar years, as calculated in accordance with statistics compiled by Statistics Canada.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Denise Savoie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

Clause 1 was negatived by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

Clause 2 was negatived by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 5.

The Title was negatived by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 4.

The Bill, as amended, was negatived by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

At 5:02 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.