Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) met to discuss a proposed law, Bill C-266, aimed at creating a national framework for skilled trades and making it easier for workers to move between provinces. The main goal is to improve how skilled trades are recognized and supported across Canada. Key speakers included Sean Strickland from Canada's Building Trades Unions and Martin Luymes from the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada. Both supported the proposed law's goal of improving worker mobility. Mr. Strickland highlighted issues like different training hours for the same trade in different provinces and the lack of recognition for safety training when workers cross borders. He also suggested creating a "labour supply coordinating committee" to better track worker demand and availability in real-time. Mr. Luymes emphasized that while mobility is important, it must be linked to strong local training programs and consistent enforcement of trade rules. He also pointed out that not all important trades are recognized under the national "Red Seal" program, which can limit support for apprentices. Later, Lisa Lovelady from Academy Canada and Sarah Watts-Rynard from Polytechnics Canada shared their perspectives. They stressed the importance of recognizing all types of training, not just one model, and making sure that apprentices, not just certified workers, can easily move between provinces. They also discussed the need for better data on apprenticeship completion rates and the challenges of attracting and retaining people in trades, especially in rural areas. Ms. Lovelady mentioned the difficulty of recruiting instructors for some trades and the potential for digital tools to simplify credential tracking. Committee members discussed the economic benefits of removing barriers, the role of federal funding, and the importance of respecting provincial control over education and trade regulation. There was a general agreement that while the proposed law might not be perfect, it's a good step towards improving worker mobility and addressing skilled trade shortages. The committee also approved budgets for future studies and a motion to offer mental health support to witnesses in an upcoming study on parental leave.

This Canadian parliamentary committee meeting focused on a proposed law (Bill C-266) aimed at creating a national framework for skilled trades and making it easier for tradespeople to work across different provinces and territories. The main goal is to remove barriers that prevent skilled workers from moving where jobs are needed most. The proposed law was introduced by MP Parm Bains, a former aircraft maintenance engineer, who believes it will help streamline and harmonize the recognition of skilled trades credentials across Canada. He highlighted that many workers face hurdles when trying to work in other provinces, leading to career limitations, inefficiencies for employers, and labor shortages. Mr. Bains emphasized that the bill is not about lowering standards but strengthening and harmonizing them, while also ensuring that language, safety, and training quality are respected, especially for French-speaking workers. Committee members from the Conservative Party, like Garnett Genuis and Rosemarie Falk, questioned whether the bill gives the government new powers or if the minister could achieve the same goals without new legislation. They also raised concerns about accountability if timelines aren't met and why more consultations are needed when these issues have been known for years. The Bloc Québécois, represented by Andréanne Larouche, expressed concerns about the bill potentially interfering with Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction over labor law and training, and asked for unconditional funding transfers. Liberal committee members, including Louis Villeneuve, Natilien Joseph, Annie Koutrakis, Emma Harrison, Caroline Desrochers, and Gurbux Saini, supported the bill, emphasizing its importance for economic growth, housing construction, and ensuring skilled workers can pursue opportunities across the country. They discussed the time and cost workers currently face for recertification when moving provinces. The committee decided to schedule two more meetings with external witnesses on October 6 and 8, followed by a session with government officials and clause-by-clause consideration of the bill on October 20. They also set a deadline of November 27 for written briefs for future studies on a national school food program and EI parental leave.

The Canadian parliamentary committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met to discuss homelessness in Canada, hearing from experts and people with personal experiences. In the first part of the meeting, Gary Gladstone from the Intentional Community Consortium explained that many people experiencing homelessness have developmental disabilities and need specific housing with strong support. He asked for 3,000 new homes and $1 billion in funding. Annie Savage from Réseau d'aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal emphasized that solving homelessness needs more than just housing; it requires a full plan that includes social help, community care, and steady, long-term funding for local groups. She noted that current funding is not enough and is too strict. Krystyna Lloyd from the Safe Haven Foundation of Canada shared her own story of being secretly homeless as a teenager. She highlighted the importance of preventing homelessness early with long-term support and programs that combine safe housing with life skills training. The second part featured Jason Miles, who shared his journey from homelessness and addiction to recovery. He stressed the need for housing, mental health, and addiction services to work together, along with a clear and easy-to-understand housing system. Sarah Vandal from Zone Libre Memphrémagog talked about the growing problem of homelessness in rural areas, mentioning the success of their mobile support unit and the need for stable funding and local solutions. Dr. Andrew Boozary, a doctor, explained that homelessness is a major health crisis, pointing out that people without homes live much shorter lives and use more healthcare services. He supported housing models that include health and social care. Earl Thiessen from Oxford House Foundation of Canada shared his powerful story of overcoming homelessness and addiction, highlighting his program that helps people stay sober while waiting for addiction treatment. Committee members acknowledged the powerful stories and agreed that homelessness is a problem that all political parties should work together to solve. They discussed the need for complete support services, the difficulties of navigating different government programs, and the importance of flexible, long-term funding for community groups. A committee member proposed a motion to review current approaches and focus on investments that show clear results in treatment, recovery, and housing stability. The Chair asked the committee to provide instructions for writing their report by June 26 and announced that a press release for the Centennial Flame award winner would be shared. The Chair expressed hope that the committee's report would lead to real change.

This Canadian parliamentary committee meeting focused on the growing problem of homelessness across Canada. Committee members heard from experts and community leaders about the challenges faced by cities and individuals, and discussed potential solutions and next steps. Key speakers included Michelle Boileau, Mayor of Timmins and Chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) social economic development committee. She highlighted that homelessness is a national crisis affecting all communities, big and small. She emphasized the need for all levels of government to work together, advocating for a "housing first" approach. Ms. Boileau stressed the importance of prevention through rent supplements and housing benefits, and called for the federal Reaching Home program to be renewed, made permanent, and expanded to meet the increasing demand, noting a significant funding gap. Taylor Soroka, co-founder of Jasper Place Wellness Centre in Edmonton, explained that homelessness is complex, not complicated, affecting diverse groups like residential school survivors, veterans, and those with mental illness. She stated that "housing first" and supportive housing models work, but are currently overwhelmed. Ms. Soroka introduced the "healing house" model, which provides small-group housing with integrated support services like mental health care, and highlighted their "bridge healing" program that helps people transition from hospital to safe housing, reducing hospital readmissions and costs. Eric Edström, from Réseau Solidarité Itinérance du Québec, agreed on the need for more flexible and predictable funding to stabilize organizations and retain expertise. He argued that shelters are a last resort, not a cause of homelessness, and provide crucial support. Mr. Edström also emphasized the importance of prevention as a social and economic investment. He expressed concerns about the vagueness of "affordable housing" definitions in new programs like Build Canada Homes, preferring the clearer concept of "social housing" tied to income. He urged for continued support and improvement of the Reaching Home program, emphasizing the need for long-term planning and adaptability to local needs, especially for communities not currently designated for specific funding.

The committee discussed how federal programs affect the start of new housing construction in Canada. The main focus was on understanding housing trends and the roles of different government organizations in building more homes. Coleen Volk, President and CEO of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), explained that CMHC helps market housing (where most Canadians live) by offering financing like mortgage loan insurance. She emphasized that just counting "housing starts" (when construction begins) isn't enough. Mathieu Laberge, CMHC's Chief Economist, added that building permits are also important because they show how builders are feeling about future projects, even before construction starts. CMHC is working to collect more data, like the time it takes from getting a permit to actually starting construction, to get a clearer picture. Committee members asked about the new organization, Build Canada Homes, which focuses on affordable housing. Ms. Volk clarified that this new group will concentrate on deeply affordable housing, while CMHC will continue to support market housing. She assured that both organizations will work closely together on projects that combine different types of housing. Concerns were raised about whether Build Canada Homes has clear goals and enough funding, and how builders will know which agency to approach. Mr. Laberge also highlighted that high development charges (fees cities charge for new construction) and complicated rules can significantly increase housing costs and slow down building, especially in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver. He noted that while housing starts are currently strong due to past positive sentiment, future construction might slow down because builders are less confident now. The committee did not make any specific decisions but will continue its study on housing.

This committee meeting focused on understanding why there aren't enough new homes being built in Canada, especially in relation to federal programs. Committee members heard from experts in the housing development and construction industries about the challenges and potential solutions to speed up home construction across the country. Key speakers included Jennifer Keesmaat from The Keesmaat Group and Mike Collins-Williams from the West End Home Builders' Association. Ms. Keesmaat highlighted that building homes takes a very long time, often a decade from start to finish, and that "housing starts" only capture one moment in this long process. She stressed the need for stable government housing programs and clear, consistent policies, as constant changes make it hard for developers to plan and invest. Mr. Collins-Williams emphasized that if people can't afford to buy homes, builders can't build them. He pointed out that high taxes, fees, and long approval times significantly increase the cost of new homes, making them unaffordable for many Canadians. Both experts agreed that housing starts are a "lagging indicator," meaning they reflect past investment decisions rather than the current health of the housing market. Later, Isabelle Demers and David Goulet from the Association des professionnels de la construction et de l'habitation du Québec (APCHQ), and Richard Lyall from the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) also spoke. They reinforced that Canada is far from its housing targets, with starts actually decreasing. They discussed how complex regulations, high development charges, and a lack of coordination between federal, provincial, and municipal governments are major roadblocks. Mr. Lyall specifically mentioned that government-imposed costs can add up to $200,000 to a new home in the Greater Toronto Area. The committee discussed several next steps and solutions. These included making federal housing programs more stable and predictable, reforming the mortgage stress test, and making the GST relief on new housing permanent. There was also a strong call for better alignment and collaboration between all levels of government to reduce red tape, streamline approval processes, and ensure that infrastructure funding is tied to development charge reform. The experts also suggested modernizing how housing starts are measured and giving the new "Build Canada Homes" initiative clear goals and accountability to ensure it delivers actual homes.

This committee meeting focused on the growing problem of homelessness in Canada, especially in smaller communities and rural areas. Committee members heard from several organizations working directly with people experiencing homelessness, discussing the causes, current challenges, and potential solutions. Key speakers included Pierre Rousseau and Frédérique Favreau from La Halte du Coin, a shelter in Quebec. They highlighted a significant increase in people needing shelter, with many new faces, including seniors and young people, often due to rising living costs and evictions. They stressed the need for more predictable and flexible funding for programs like Reaching Home, suggesting it become a recurring program rather than project-based, to allow organizations to plan better and avoid last-minute spending. Michael Lethby from Raft, a youth organization in Niagara, shared a different perspective. He explained that simply opening more shelters can worsen the problem by creating a cycle of homelessness. Raft's successful Youth Reconnect program focuses on preventing homelessness by identifying at-risk students and supporting them to stay housed within their communities and connected to their natural support systems. He emphasized that homelessness is often caused by broken relationships and social exclusion, not just a lack of housing. Ryan Donais, founder of Tiny Tiny Homes, shared his personal experience with homelessness and advocated for transitional and supportive housing, especially for vulnerable groups like youth leaving foster care. He argued that housing is the foundation for recovery from addiction and mental health issues, and that it's often cheaper to house people than to keep them in emergency systems. Maxime Rainville from Corporation de développement communautaire de Brome-Missisquoi and Cédric Champagne from Entrée chez soi Brome-Missisquoi discussed the unique challenges of homelessness in rural areas, including a lack of services and the need for more direct funding to regional communities. They also highlighted the administrative hurdles caused by overlapping government rules. The committee heard that current funding models are often fragmented and too focused on crisis response rather than prevention and long-term stability. Witnesses recommended increasing funding for prevention programs, making federal funding more flexible and predictable, and investing in supportive housing that includes mental health and addiction services. They also called for better coordination between different levels of government and departments to create a more integrated approach to addressing homelessness.

This Canadian parliamentary committee meeting was supposed to discuss homelessness, but the first hour was spent on the Department of Employment and Social Development's budget and other topics. The Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, and her officials were present. The discussion covered various topics including skilled trades, parental leave, youth unemployment, and support for seniors. Minister Hajdu highlighted the government's plan to invest $6 billion to recruit, train, and hire 100,000 new skilled trades workers over the next five years. She also mentioned extensions to Canada student grants and loans to help with affordability. Committee members questioned the Minister on various issues, including the justification for sending airline workers back to work during a strike, the government's stance on parental leave reforms, and the issue of companies hiring illegal workers receiving government subsidies. The Minister committed to looking into some of these specific cases. Concerns were raised about youth unemployment, which has increased. The Minister stated the government is working to reduce it and criticized the opposition for voting against related investments. The discussion also touched on support for seniors, with a committee member arguing that increases to Old Age Security were insufficient given the rising cost of living. The Minister clarified that all benefits are indexed to inflation and that low-income Canadians would receive additional support. The second hour of the meeting shifted to the official subject of homelessness in Canada, with witnesses Sandra Clarkson from the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre Society and Gilles Beauregard from Table itinérance Rive-Sud. They discussed the increasing complexity of homelessness, the need for more supportive housing, and the impact of addiction. Both witnesses emphasized the importance of prevention and predictable, multi-year funding for homelessness programs. Ms. Clarkson shared the success of her organization's housing-focused approach and encampment program, while Mr. Beauregard highlighted the spread of homelessness to smaller communities and the need to re-evaluate the "designated communities" concept in federal funding.

This meeting of the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities committee focused on the government's spending plans for housing and infrastructure, as well as a discussion on how housing starts are measured and their impact on policy. The committee approved a budget of $500 for a previous meeting and then moved to discuss the main estimates for 2026-27 for the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, was a key speaker. He highlighted that his department is seeking over $17 billion in funding, mainly for programs like the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the Canada Public Transit Fund. He also spoke about the new $51-billion Build Communities Strong Fund, which aims to modernize infrastructure and increase housing supply. The Minister also discussed the creation of Build Canada Homes, a new agency focused on building more affordable homes, and its initial projects. He addressed questions about the costs of setting up Build Canada Homes and the government's decision to reduce the GST on new homes under $1 million in Ontario, with hopes for a similar agreement with British Columbia. He also discussed efforts to combat homelessness through programs like Reaching Home and the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative. Later in the meeting, three witnesses provided insights on housing starts and the housing market. Michael Brooks from the Real Property Association of Canada, Sean Baird from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, and Brad Jones from Wesgroup Properties all agreed that the current way of measuring "housing starts" is not effective for making policy decisions. They suggested looking at sales, pre-sales, and excavation starts as better indicators. Mr. Brooks noted a potential oversupply of rental units due to changes in immigration levels, making new rental projects less financially viable. Mr. Baird emphasized the need for capital grants, not just loans, to create deeply affordable housing and stressed the importance of preserving existing public housing. Mr. Jones highlighted how frequent changes to building codes and the reliance on imported materials are increasing construction costs and making housing less affordable. The committee members raised concerns about the affordability of housing, the impact of rising costs on vulnerable populations, and the need for more predictable funding for community housing. There was also a discussion about the appeal of the Cowichan decision regarding aboriginal title and private property, with the Minister stating the government's appeal is for clarity. The committee concluded by agreeing to report the votes on the main estimates to the House and will continue its homelessness study at the next meeting.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met to discuss the modernization of benefits delivery. Cliff Groen, Associate Deputy Minister, and Brian Hickey, Assistant Deputy Minister, both from Service Canada, explained how they are updating old computer systems that handle important benefits like Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI), and Canada Pension Plan (CPP). They said the old systems were at risk of failing, which could stop payments to millions of Canadians. Groen mentioned that the new OAS system is working and has already processed billions of dollars in payments. They are now working on updating the EI system and call centers. Groen clarified that the total cost for the entire project is estimated at $6.6 billion through 2031, which includes upgrading OAS, EI, CPP and call centers, and also includes money set aside for unexpected issues. He also noted that a recent $176 million investment is to help with increased OAS workload and system maintenance, not part of the $6.6 billion modernization budget. During the meeting, committee members asked about problems with the new systems. Eric Lefebvre, a Conservative member, asked how many employees report to Groen and requested an organizational chart. He also raised concerns about employees finding the new system hard to use. Groen responded that employees initially had trouble adjusting to the new system, but it is a big change from the 60-year-old system they were used to. He denied blaming the employees. Lefebvre also claimed that 70,000 seniors have not received their pension and that the system is not working, which Groen denied. A motion was made to order the production of documents related to the modernization, but it was defeated. Kristina Tesser Derksen, a Liberal member, discussed the complexities of estimating costs for such a large project. Groen explained that the initial cost estimates were made before they fully understood the old systems and that cybersecurity costs have increased since then. Andréanne Larouche, a Bloc Québécois member, raised concerns about delays in benefits and the impact on vulnerable Canadians. Groen acknowledged that some seniors have experienced delays but said the new system is not the cause. Anna Roberts, a Conservative member, asked about seniors who haven't received their OAS payments and the amount of overtime paid to staff. Groen said that overtime is offered but not required. Natilien Joseph, a Liberal member, suggested that some delays are caused by incomplete application forms and emphasized the importance of protecting seniors. Laila Goodridge, a Conservative member, shared her experience of long wait times at a Service Canada office and asked about improving customer service. Louis Villeneuve, a Liberal member, asked about the effectiveness of the new system and the risks of not updating the old systems. The committee also discussed the need for transparency and the production of documents related to the modernization project.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met to discuss housing starts in relation to federal programs. Kevin Lee, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA), spoke about the shift in housing starts from ownership to rental units and the need for more homes for ownership to achieve affordability. He highlighted that policies at all levels of government have made home ownership increasingly difficult and suggested actions like reducing sales and development taxes, streamlining regulations, and fixing the mortgage stress test. Mike Moffatt, Founding Director of the Missing Middle Initiative, emphasized the importance of having a clear goal for housing policy, such as ensuring that middle-class families can afford to buy or rent a home. He cautioned against relying solely on housing start numbers as an indicator of success and suggested tracking excavations as a better real-time measure of construction activity. He also noted the importance of certainty regarding immigration policies for builders to make informed investment decisions. Committee members discussed various issues, including how housing starts are counted, the impact of construction costs, and the need for coordination between federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The witnesses and committee members agreed that both rental and ownership housing are important, and that current policies may be disproportionately favoring rental construction. The committee approved a budget of $18,750 to continue the study.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development met to discuss a proposed law called Build Canada Homes. This law aims to help build more affordable housing in Canada. The committee heard from several witnesses who shared their thoughts on the proposed law. Mitch Gascoyne from CentreCourt, a large housing developer, said that the cost of building homes is too high, even though land and construction costs have gone down. He believes Build Canada Homes can help by providing money for affordable housing projects. He also said that this new program should work with, not replace, existing programs like those offered by CMHC. Laurent Levesque and Maxime Pelletier from UTILE, a non-profit housing builder, talked about the need for Build Canada Homes to fund multiple projects at once, instead of one at a time. They also said that CMHC programs need to work better with Build Canada Homes. Samuel Watts from Welcome Hall Mission, a social services organization, supported the proposed law but said that it needs to include funding for support services to help people stay in their homes. He also suggested that the definition of "affordable housing" should be written into the law itself. During the meeting, committee members also debated a request for documents related to a government benefits system called Cúram. Some members wanted to get more information about the system's costs and performance, while others argued that producing the documents would take too much time and resources away from other important work. The committee agreed to invite the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and the Minister of Jobs and Families to testify at a future meeting.