HUMA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 11:03 a.m. this day, in Room 8-53, 131 Queen St., the Chair, Candice Hoeppner, presiding.

The Chair called Clause 3.

The question was put on Clause 3 and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

Accordingly, Clause 3 carried.

“3.1 Quebec may, as a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, participate in the benefits of this Act with respect to its own choices, its own programs and its own approach related to housing on its territory.”

Debate arose thereon.

At 11:18 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:22 a.m., the sitting resumed.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:09 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

At 12:34 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:35 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Michael John Savage, — That the Committee requests that the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development appear before the Committee for two hours as soon as possible to discuss the Conservative government's new policy of eliminating a senior citizens' ability to exempt Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF) from the calculation of GIS eligibility through the use of the "option provision" as otherwise allowed in the Old Age Security Act and the consequences this will have on seniors who receive Guaranteed Income Supplement(GIS) payments.

The debate continued.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Yves Lessard moved, — That the Committee recommend that the government, if necessary, delay the next census to a later date so that it can be carried out in full compliance with the House of Commons decision of September 29, 2010, and that the Committee so report to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Debate arose thereon.

At 12:50 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:54 p.m., the sitting resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the motion of Yves Lessard inadmissible on the basis that the motion deals with a matter which goes beyond the mandate of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

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 overturned on the following recorded division: YEAS: Kelly Block, Rick Casson, Ed Komarnicki, Maurice Vellacott, Jeff Watson — 5; NAYS: Josée Beaudin, Raymonde Folco, Martha Hall Findlay, Yves Lessard, Tony Martin, Michael John Savage — 6.

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.