HUMA Committee Report

Additional opinion from the Bloc Québécois

On April 20, 2023, the Bloc Québécois tabled a motion to improve the funding and flexibility of the Canada Summer Jobs program, calling on the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to undertake a study of the program.

We would like to thank the members of the Committee and the many witnesses who came to share their experiences. It was a very interesting and enriching study. During the course of the study, we were able to see just how important this program is to the many organizations that support our communities.

Overall, we agree with the vast majority of the findings and recommendations contained in the report resulting from the study. We welcome all elements of the report that encourage administrative streamlining and greater program flexibility.

We also welcome the recommendations that will enable users to share their experiences, with a view to ongoing analysis and improvement of the program's effectiveness.

However, as part of this study, a significant number of witnesses recommended an increase in program funding, as the post-pandemic decrease in funding for the year 2023 had prevented them from carrying out their projects.

However, none of the report's recommendations mention the importance of increasing the program's budget. Consequently, we would like to reiterate that we believe it is essential that the Canada Summer Jobs program see its funding substantially increased and indexed in the future, as we have argued.

In conclusion, we believe the report makes sound recommendations to the government for improving the Canada Summer Jobs program. However, this program will only have the desired effects if it is properly funded.