HUMA Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 6

Thursday, March 1st, 2001

The Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met in a televised session at 11:15 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Adams, presiding.

Member(s) of the Committee present: Peter Adams, Jeannot Castonguay, Paul Crête, Georges Farrah, Raymonde Folco, Monique Guay, Joe McGuire, Val Meredith, Anita Neville, Carol Skelton, Diane St-Jacques and Alan Tonks.

Acting Member(s) present: Yvon Godin for Libby Davies, John Godfrey for Tony Ianno, Ian Grose for Judy Longfield.

Other Member(s) present: Dr. Carolyn Bennett.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Julie MacKenzie, Kevin Kerr and Bill Young, Research Officers.

Witness(es): From the "Conseil du patronat du Québec": Gilles Taillon, President; Jacques Garon, Research Director. From the Canadian Labour Congress: Nancy Riche, Secretary-Treasurer; Kevin Hayes, Senior Economist. From the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters: Jayson Myers, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist. From the "Confédération des syndicats nationaux": Roger Valois, Vice President; Réjeanne Choinière, Lawyer.

Pursuant to its Order of Reference of Tuesday, February 13, 2001, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance (Fishing) Regulations (See Minutes of Proceedings, Wednesday, February 21, 2001, Meeting No. 2).

The witnesses made opening statements and answered questions.

On motion of Raymonde Folco, it was agreed, -- That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) (a)(b), a Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be established, and that pursuant to 108(2) and (3)(c) the Sub-Committee study among other matters, the proposing, promoting, monitoring and assessment of initiatives aimed at the integration and equality of disabled persons in all sectors of Canadian society;

That the Sub-Committee be chaired by Dr. Carolyn Bennett and be composed of nine members or associate members of the Committee namely: five government members and four members representing the opposition parties to be named after the usual consultations with the whips and filed with the Clerk;

That the Sub-Committee report thereon its findings and recommendations to the Committee;

That the Sub-Committee be empowered, except when the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit only during a time when the Standing Committee is not sitting, unless agreed by the Chair of the Standing Committee, to print from day to day such papers as may be ordered by it and to authorize the Chair to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least 3 members are present including the opposition;

That when the Chair of the Sub-Committee is unable to act in that capacity at or during a meeting of the Sub-Committee, he shall designate a member of the Sub-Committee to act as Chair at or during the said meeting;

That substitution of members on the Sub-Committee be in accordance with Standing Order114(2)(b) and (c);

That the Committee authorize the allocation of sufficient funds from its budget to the Sub-Committee for the payment of reasonable travelling and living expenses to witnesses appearing before the Sub-Committee;

That the Sub-Committee be empowered to retain the services of research officers from the Library of Parliament and;

That it also be empowered to retain the professional, clerical and stenographic help as may be required.

On motion of Anita Neville, it was agreed, -- That pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) (a)(b), a Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be established, and that pursuant to 108(2) the Sub-Committee study issues regarding the future of children and youth in Canada;

That the Sub-Committee be chaired by John Godfrey and composed of nine members or associate members of the Committee namely five government members and four members representing the opposition parties to be named after the usual consultations with the whips and filed with the Clerk;

That the Sub-Committee report thereon its findings and recommendations to the Committee;

That the Sub-Committee be empowered, except when the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to receive evidence, to sit only during a time when the Standing Committee is not sitting, unless agreed by the Chair of the Standing Committee, to print from day to day such papers as may be ordered by it and to authorize the Chair to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least 3 members are present including the opposition;

That when the Chair of the Sub-Committee is unable to act in that capacity at or during a meeting of the Sub-Committee, he shall designate a member of the Sub-Committee to act as Chair at or during the said meeting;

That substitution of members on the Sub-Committee be in accordance with Standing Order114(2)(b) and (c);

That the Committee authorize the allocation of sufficient funds from its budget to the Sub-Committee for the payment of reasonable travelling and living expenses to witnesses appearing before the Sub-Committee;

That the Sub-Committee be empowered to retain the services of research officers from the Library of Parliament and;

That it also be empowered to retain the professional, clerical and stenographic help as may be required.

At 1:21 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Danielle Belisle

Clerk of the Committee