THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Friday, May 14, 2021
(7)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day by videoconference at 9:04 a.m. [ET], the Honourable Chantal Petitclerc, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Black (Ontario), Bovey, Dasko, Forest-Niesing, Frum, Kutcher, Manning, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar and Petitclerc (11).

Other senator present by videoconference: The Honourable Senator Moncion (1).

Participating in the meeting: François Michaud, Procedural Clerk, Sébastien Payet, Legislative Clerk, and Lori Meldrum, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Laura Blackmore and Laura Munn-Rivard, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures. (Topic: Division 23)

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Employment and Social Development Canada:

David Charter, Director, Labour Program;

Sébastien St-Arnaud, Manager, Labour Program.

Unifor:

Jerry Dias, National President;

Navjeet Sidhu, National Representative.

Canadian Federation of Independent Business:

Jasmin Guénette, Vice-President, National Affairs;

Emilie Hayes, Policy Analyst, National Affairs.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Charter made a statement and, together with Mr. St-Arnaud, answered questions.

At 9:54 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Dias and Mr. Guénette made statements and, together with Ms. Hayes and Mr. Sidhu, answered questions.

At 11:01 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:59 a.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Divisions 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of Part 4 of Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures. (Topic: Division 28)

WITNESS (by videoconference):

As an individual:

Dr. Abraham Fuks, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University.

Dr. Fuks made a statement.

At 12:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:07 p.m., the committee resumed.

Dr. Fuks made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:45 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 12:46 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft report.

The committee considered a draft report.

At 1:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee