Moved the adoption of the report.

She said: Honourable senators, I rise today very briefly to speak to the Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee’s report on Bill S-244, An Act to amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and the Employment Insurance Act. We met three times over this bill. We heard from 11 witnesses — a broad range of stakeholders, including unions, employers and the two current Employment Insurance, or EI, commissioners.

All stakeholders we heard from agreed that the creation of the EI council would be beneficial in promoting social dialogue on Employment Insurance. We also heard from officials in the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada, or ESDC.

The EI Commissioner for Employers, Nancy Healey, said:

Bill S-244 would provide a forum for both employer groups and labour groups to discuss issues of mutual concern around employment, workforce development, jobs and skills.

Pierre Laliberté, the Commissioner for Workers, expressed his support for the bill. He stated it would increase accountability and efficiency.

Further, the committee heard from the sponsor of the bill — Senator Diane Bellemare — that both workers’ and employers’ representatives have identified a need for an Employment Insurance council to meet regularly. This would build trust between participants and establish the best ways to implement skills programs. The committee, therefore, adopted an amendment to clause 4 of Bill S-244, creating a new section 29.1(6.1) in the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, which would require that the council meet at least three times every year.

With that, I would like to say thank you to the Library of Parliament analysts, the clerk and all the committee staff for helping us get to this point.