HUMA Committee appearance binder: Appearance of Minister Qualtrough - March 16 2021

On this page

• Speaking notes
• Ministerial correspondence from HUMA members and critics
• Ministerial correspondence from HUMA members and critics: Received between September 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021

1. Speaking notes

Speaking Notes for the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough - Appearance before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) - Supplementary Estimates C 2020 to 2021 and Main Estimates 2021 to 2022 - March 16, 2021

2021 PA 0222

Check Against Delivery.

Mr. Chair and Committee members, thank you for inviting me to join you today.

I will be speaking to the Supplementary Estimates C for 2020 to 2021 and the Main Estimates for 2021 to 2022 for the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The Supplementary Estimates C for 2020 to 2021 request an additional $225 million in voted authorities, offset by a decrease of $708 million in statutory authorities. This decrease is due primarily to updated forecasts for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CERB).

The 2021 to 2022 Main Estimates present planned expenditures of $82.4 billion, which is an increase in $13.8 billion from the original planned budgetary expenditures for 2020 to 2021.

Let me explain.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has been unwavering in its support for Canadians. In the Fall Economic Statement, we laid out our plan to position Canada for a strong recovery. The appropriations requested in these Estimates will help us implement that plan.

The Main Estimates include funding for our Canada Recovery Benefits. The Supplementary Estimates C include funding to support students, to improve youth programming and to improve gender and diversity outcomes in skills programming. They also include funding for Canadians with disabilities.

I will now provide you with some more details.

CERB, CRB and EI

Within weeks of the first lockdown, we set up the CERB, a keystone piece of economic support for nearly 9 million Canadians.

Then, when the CERB was due to finish last summer, we made changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program so that more people could access benefits, including regular and special benefits.

For Canadians who didn’t qualify for EI, we introduced a complementary new suite of recovery benefits—the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

Today, through the Main Estimates, we are requesting an increase totalling $10.3 billion for these 3 temporary recovery benefits.

And we are still in a crisis. We’ve continued to monitor the economic situation, and Canadians still need support.

That is why, over the past few weeks, we introduced Bill C-24, which your committee will begin to study soon, to temporarily increase the maximum number of weeks for EI regular benefits. We are also planning to increase the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefits through regulations.

Support for Students

Many young people have struggled financially—and continue to struggle—due to a loss of income caused by the pandemic.

In response, last spring, the Government of Canada stepped up to support Canadian youth. We introduced a comprehensive emergency package for students. It included boosts to job programs, direct income support and increased financial assistance through grants and loans and a pause on student loan repayments.

Through the Main Estimates, we are requesting an increase of $438.5 million to the Canada Student Loans Program and Canada Apprentice Loans.

Now, let me talk about job creation.

Job Creation

We are committed to creating a million jobs, restoring employment to pre-pandemic levels, making the largest training investment in Canadian history, and creating opportunities for young people. We are focused on strengthening workers’ futures by ensuring they have the skills they need for the changing nature of work and the labour market.

This will be done by using a range of tools, including immediate training to quickly skill up workers. We also intend to improve youth programming and to improve gender and diversity outcomes in skills programming.

For example, we will significantly scale up the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, providing more paid work experiences for young Canadians who face barriers to entering the workplace.

And this year, the Canada Summer Jobs program is aiming to have a total of 120,000 jobs for students—that’s 50% more than last year!

Support for Persons with Disabilities

The Government of Canada has also committed to support persons with disabilities during the pandemic.

The Supplementary Estimates C provide funding for the one-time payment of up to $600 to help Canadians with disabilities offset the extra expenses during the pandemic.

We will also bring forward a bold plan—the Disability Inclusion Action Plan—that will include a new disability benefit, an employment strategy and an overhaul of how people access programs and services.

Conclusion

I would like to thank you for your attention to these Estimates. Together, we can provide Canadians with the support they need to get through the pandemic.

I would now be happy to take your questions.

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Subject

2. Ministerial correspondence from HUMA members and critics

3. Ministerial correspondence from HUMA members and critics