| MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS |
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| Meeting No. 20 |
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| Tuesday, April 1, 2008 |
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The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 9:06 a.m. this day, in Room 213, Wellington Building, the Chair, Dean Allison, presiding. |
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Members of the Committee present: Dean Allison, France Bonsant, Gord Brown, Rodger Cuzner, Ruby Dhalla, Jacques Gourde, Mike Lake, Yves Lessard, Tony Martin, Michael Savage, Hon. Judy Sgro and Lynne Yelich. |
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Acting Members present: Yvon Godin for Tony Martin. |
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In attendance: Library of Parliament: Kevin Kerr, Analyst; Chantal Collin, Analyst; Jennifer Paul, Analyst. House of Commons: Marc Toupin, Legislative Clerk. |
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Witnesses: Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada: Bill James, Director General, Skills and Employment Branch; Carol McLean, Acting Senior Counsel, Legal Services. |
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| Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, October 16, 2007, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-265, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (qualification for and entitlement to benefits). |
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The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill. |
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The Chair called Clause 1. |
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Clause 1 carried. |
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Clause 2 carried. |
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On Clause 3,
Michael Savage moved, — That Bill C-265, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 1 to 8 on page 2 with the following: “3. (1) The table to subsection 7(2) of the Act is replaced by the following: TABLE | Regional Rate of Unemployment | Required Number of Hours of Insurable Employment in Qualifying Period | 6% and under | 630
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more than 6% but not more than 7%
| 595
| more than 7% but not more than 8%
| 560 | more than 8% but not more than 9%
| 525
| more than 9% but not more than 10%
| 490
| more than 10% but not more than 11%
| 455
| more than 11% but not more than 12%
| 420
| more than 12% but not more than 13%
| 385 | more than 13%
| 350 |
(2) Paragraph 7(3)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following: (b) has had 840 or more hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period.” |
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After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Michael Savage and it was negatived. |
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Clause 3 was negatived. |
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Clause 4 was negatived. |
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On Clause 5, Yves Lessard moved, — That Bill C-265, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing line 27 on page 2 with the following:“to a claimant is 60% of the average of their” |
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After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Yves Lessard and it was negatived. |
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Clause 5 carried. |
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Clause 6 carried. |
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The Title carried. |
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The Bill, as amended, carried. |
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ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House. |
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| The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business. |
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The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Michael Savage, — That the Standing Committee of Human Resources and Skills Development and Persons with Disabilities conduct hearings on the Government of Canada’s intent to create a Crown Corporation for the purpose of administering the Employment Insurance Fund and that the Committee call such witness as deemed necessary to assess the implications of transferring the administration of Employment Insurance from the Department of Human Resources and Social Development Canada to a Crown Corporation. The debate continued. |
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Mike Lake moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the first word “That” the following: “, upon completion of the poverty study,”. |
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After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mike Lake and it was negatived. |
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Mike Lake moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the first word “That” the following: “, with recognition that priority should be given to the poverty study,”. |
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After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mike Lake and it was negatived. |
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After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to. |
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By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Conservative Party be allowed to present its dissenting opinion on the Employability Report after the original deadline. |
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At 10:50 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair. |
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Jacques Maziade
Clerk of the Committee
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| 2008/04/28 12:24 p.m. |