OGGO Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 29

Tuesday, April 8, 2003

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates met at 9:15 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Reg Alcock, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, Carolyn Bennett, Roy Cullen, Ken Epp, Raymonde Folco, Paul Forseth, Robert Lanctôt, Steve Mahoney, Judy Sgro, Paul Szabo, Tony Tirabassi and Tony Valeri.

Acting Member present: Brian Massé for Pat Martin.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Jack Stilborn, Acting Principal

Witnesses: From the Human Resources Modernization Task Force: Ranald A. Quail, Deputy Minister and Head; Monique Boudrias, Assistant Deputy Minister and Senior Advisor; Yvette Aloisi, Director General, Institutional Reform, MC Development; Michel LeFrançois, General Counsel; Lois Pearce, Director General Policy.

Pursuant to its Order of Reference of Thursday, February 20, 2003, the Committee resumed its consideration of Bill C-25, An Act to modernize employment and labour relations in the public service and to amend the Financial Administration Act and the Canadian Centre for Management Development Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (See Minutes of Proceedings, Thursday, February 27, 2003, Meeting No. 12).

The witnesses answered questions.

By unanimous consent the Committee agreed to proceed in camera.

On motion of Paul Szabo it was agreed, --

That the Information Commissioner, John Reid be asked to provide this Committee with a descriptive breakdown of the Office of the Information Commissioner that will include job descriptions of each person.  This information is to be presented to the Committee within one month.

That the Information Commissioner, John Reid, be asked to provide this committee with his personal expense accounts for the period of two years as prepared according to Treasury Board guidelines. This information is to be presented to the committees within one month.

That the Information Commissioner, John Reid be asked to provide this committee with the list of organizations and persons who are to receive the press releases issued from his office.

That the Privacy Commissioner, George Radwanski be asked to provide this Committee with a descriptive breakdown of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner that will include job descriptions of each person.  This information is to be presented to the Committee within one month.

That the Privacy Commissioner, George Radwanski, be asked to provide this committee with his personal expense accounts for the period of two years as prepared according to Treasury Board guidelines. This information is to be presented to the committees within one month.

That the Privacy Commissioner, George Radwanski, be asked to provide this committee with the list of organizations and persons who are to receive the press releases issued from his office.

On motion of Judy Sgro it was agreed, --

That the Office of the Privy Council provide the following documents to the Committee:

The report, letter/advice on Bill C-25 by Mr. Donald Savoie, commissioned by the Human Resources Modernization Task Force

Any other reports, letters/advice commissioned by the Task Force regarding C-25, in particular, the report of Mr. Jim Mitchell, and that of Mr. Nicholas D’Ombrain.

At 9:40 a.m. the sitting was suspended.

At 12:16 p.m. the sitting resumed.

The Committee proceeded to Clause-by-Clause consideration of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 was postponed.

Robert Lanctôt moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 11 on page 1 with the following:

“tion of union rights is paramount;”

After debate, by unanimous consent, the amendment was allowed to stand.

Robert Lanctôt moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 7 on page 2 the following:

“the practice of free collective bargaining and the positive resolution of disputes must be encouraged in the interest of the public good;”

After debate, by unanimous consent, the amendment was allowed to stand.

Robert Lanctôt moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 41 on page 4 the following:

“harassment” means any vexatious behaviour in the form of repeated and hostile or unwanted conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures, that affects an employee's dignity or psychological or physical integrity and that results in a harmful work environment for the employee. Every employee is entitled to a work environment free of psychological or physical harassment, and the employer must take reasonable action to prevent harassment in any form and, whenever the employer become aware of such behaviour, to put a stop to it.”

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.

Tony Tirabassi moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing, in the English version, line 38 on page 7 with the following:

“Employee freedoms”

5. Every employee is free to join the

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was adopted on division.

Robert Lanctôt moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 39 on page 7 with the following:

“trade union of his or her choice”

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.

Robert Lanctôt moved, --

That Bill C-25, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 11 on page 8 with the following:

“to assign duties to positions and”

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived on division.

At 1:50 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Miriam Burke

Clerk of the Committee