Discussion · Government Orders
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Québécois
“The tax agency took away the Commissionaires' right of first refusal for security jobs. This will cost veterans 12 full-time jobs, and the ones who stay will make two to four dollars an hour less. Soon the whole government plans to do the same thing. I want the government to change its mind and protect this right for veterans.”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague’s question gives me an opportunity to clarify some things. I know that we are talking about the equivalent of 12 full-time positions for veterans. It is true that, when we talk about this, it seems that it is not a big number. However, that is not what is at issue. It is the principle that is at issue. Indeed, the CRA moved up the April 1 deadline by publishing specifications and exempting itself from the Commissionaires’ right of refusal. That is what we are questioning here. The fact that veterans representing 12 full-time equivalent positions are losing their jobs may seem insignificant to the parliamentary secretary. However, I think it is too many, because they already had a job. Moreover, those who stay will be paid $2 to $4 an hour less to do the same work. Evidently, I cannot agree with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, who says that it is a small amount. No, it is not, because a right has just been taken away. Moreover, this is the first agency to decide to take this right away. Soon, on April 1, if the government does not change its mind, it would be the entire government, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, that will remove the Commissionaires’ right of refusal.”
Madam Speaker, my colleague’s question gives me an opportunity to clarify some things. I know that we are talking about the equivalent of 12 full-time positions for veterans. It is true that, when we talk about this, it seems that it is not a big number. However, that is not what is at issue. It is the principle that is at issue. Indeed, the CRA moved up the April 1 deadline by publishing specifications and exempting itself from the Commissionaires’ right of refusal. That is what we are questioning here. The fact that veterans representing 12 full-time equivalent positions are losing their jobs may seem insignificant to the parliamentary secretary. However, I think it is too many, because they already had a job. Moreover, those who stay will be paid $2 to $4 an hour less to do the same work. Evidently, I cannot agree with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, who says that it is a small amount. No, it is not, because a right has just been taken away. Moreover, this is the first agency to decide to take this right away. Soon, on April 1, if the government does not change its mind, it would be the entire government, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, that will remove the Commissionaires’ right of refusal.