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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 106
Monday, April 8, 2024, 3:30 p.m. to 5:34 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Robert J. Morrissey, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Eleni Kachulis, Analyst
• Vanessa Preston, Analyst
Canadian Labour Congress
• Bea Bruske, President
• Chris Roberts, Director, Social and Economic Policy Department
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
• Ryan Greer, Vice President, Public Affairs and National Policy
Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012.

Bea Bruske and Ryan Greer made statements and answered questions.

Motion

Scott Aitchison moved, —

Trudeau is recycling the same costly promises that have already doubled housing costs in the last 8 years. He has doubled the rent, doubled mortgage payments & doubled the needed down payment for an average home. Housing costs have worsened more in Canada than any other G7 country in Trudeau’s 8 years.

According to a recent report from RBC, housing became more unaffordable in every single market tracked, including: Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and more, with some markets reaching all-time unaffordability levels. The average Canadian family must now pay 63.5% of their total pre-tax household income in order to afford mortgage payments on a typical home in Canada; therefore the committee report its concern regarding this matter to the House of Commons; and

(a) Invite the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to appear before committee for no less than two hours, by April 18, 2024; and

(b) Invite RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue, to testify before the committee for no less than two hours, by April 18th, 2024.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Peter Fragiskatos moved, — That the motion be amended by:

(a) deleting the words “Trudeau is recycling the same costly promises that have already doubled housing costs in the last 8 years. He has doubled the rent, doubled mortgage payments & doubled the needed down payment for an average home. Housing costs have worsened more in Canada than any other G7 country in Trudeau’s 8 years”

(b) replacing the words “; therefore the committee report its concern regarding this matter to the House of Commons; and (a) Invite the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to appear before committee for no less than two hours, by April 18, 2024; and (b) Invite RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue, to testify before the committee for no less than two hours, by April 18th, 2024” with the words “.Therefore the committee invite the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue to testify before the committee on the study on homelessness and affordable housing adopted on February 12, 2024".

Debate arose thereon.

At 4:20 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:24 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Subamendment

Alexandre Boulerice moved, — That the English version of the amendment be amended by adding after "RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue", the words “and the Governor of the Bank of Canada”.

The question was put on the subamendment of Alexandre Boulerice and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Scott Aitchison, Alexandre Boulerice, Louise Chabot, Chad Collins, Michael Coteau, Rosemarie Falk, Michelle Ferreri, Peter Fragiskatos, Tracy Gray, Wayne Long, Terry Sheehan — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The debate continued on the amendment of Peter Fragiskatos, as amended.

The question was put on the amendment of Peter Fragiskatos, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Alexandre Boulerice, Louise Chabot, Chad Collins, Michael Coteau, Peter Fragiskatos, Wayne Long, Terry Sheehan — 7;

NAYS: Scott Aitchison, Rosemarie Falk, Michelle Ferreri, Tracy Gray — 4.

The debate continued on the motion, as amended, of Scott Aitchison.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Scott Aitchison, Alexandre Boulerice, Louise Chabot, Chad Collins, Michael Coteau, Rosemarie Falk, Michelle Ferreri, Peter Fragiskatos, Tracy Gray, Wayne Long, Terry Sheehan — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

According to a recent report from RBC, housing became more unaffordable in every single market tracked, including: Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and more, with some markets reaching all-time unaffordability levels. The average Canadian family must now pay 63.5% of their total pre-tax household income in order to afford mortgage payments on a typical home in Canada. Therefore the committee invite the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, RBC Assistant Chief Economist Robert Hogue and the Governor of the Bank of Canada to testify before the committee on the study on homelessness and affordable housing adopted on February 12, 2024.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 4:42 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:47 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the committee proceeded to a briefing with Air Canada on services offered to travellers with disabilities.

The committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the draft report be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Briefing with Air Canada on Services Offered to Travellers with Disabilities".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, clerk and analysts be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

It was agreed, — That dissenting or supplementary opinions be in Calibri 12-point font, left aligned, single-spaced, and be submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the clerk of the committee, not later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Friday, June 2, 2023, the committee resumed its study of the implications of artificial intelligence technologies for the Canadian labour force.

The committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

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

ORDERED, — That the clerk and analysts of the committee, in consultation with the Chair, prepare a news release for publication on the committee’s website and for distribution upon presentation of the report to the House in relation to the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

It was agreed, — That the members of the committee submit to the clerk all of their proposed amendments to Bill C-58 no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024.

At 5:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Ariane Calvert
Clerk of the committee