HUMA Committee Report

Bloc Québécois Supplementary Opinion

The Bloc Québécois wishes to reiterate that the labour shortage is a critical issue. It’s also a key issue for Quebec, and recent upheavals in the labour market as a result of the pandemic warranted the committee’s examination. We thank the committee members for their work and the many witnesses who shared their expertise. Discussions were interesting and enriching. Overall, we agree with the vast majority of the report’s findings and recommendations. However, the Bloc Québécois wishes to present a supplementary opinion to identify elements of the report that are problematic and that cause confusion about the role of the different levels of government.

First, it bears repeating that the federal government must act in its own area of jurisdiction. We welcome all elements of the report that address workforce training agreements, the review of federal labour market participation and inclusion programs, changes to the federal tax system for retirees, improvements to the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments, enhancing the foreign worker program, and facilitating pathways to permanent residence. These are areas that need to be improved and that are under federal jurisdiction. We therefore support the related findings and recommendations.

Accordingly, we wish to make clear that only Quebec and the provinces can intervene in their own areas of jurisdiction, which includes the health sector. They alone are responsible for deciding on health care workers’ compensation, working conditions, benefits, workload, workforce planning and developing standards of care. The federal government has neither the jurisdiction nor the expertise to intervene in this area. Any encroachment in this direction on Quebec’s jurisdiction would be counterproductive, unacceptable and violate the concept of asymmetrical federalism, established in 2004, which recognizes Quebec’s exclusive responsibility with respect to planning, organizing and managing health services within its territory.[1]

In conclusion, we believe that the report provides the federal government with ample scope to provide solutions to address labour shortages in its own areas of jurisdiction. Moreover, we reiterate that the federal government’s role in health matters is above all to respect Quebec’s areas of jurisdiction and to provide predictable, long-term funding to 35% of expenditures, unconditionally, as called for by the premiers of Quebec and the provinces.