Discussion · Government Orders
Gord Johns NDP
“The Commissionaires is a non-profit that hires more Canadian veterans than anyone else. The government is meeting with a private security company instead of meeting with the Commissionaires. Giving this work to a private company goes too far. I want to know why the minister refuses to meet with the Commissionaires.”
“Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, Commissionaires is still the largest employer of Canada’s veterans, and it is a not-for-profit. The government has been meeting with GardaWorld as recently as July, but Commissionaires cannot even get a meeting with the minister, who has not met with Commissionaires since the spring. I am hoping my colleague can share a bit of insight on why the government is refusing to meet with the Commissionaires. If there is an issue about needing to increase the amount of veterans who are working for Commissionaires, that should be a conversation the minister is having. Taking that away and giving it to a private company instead is privatization that has crossed the line. It is over the top. When the member talks about veteran employment, I will tell him what it is like in my riding. In Courtenay, where the Commissionaires is, 60% of those who work for Commissionaires are veterans. I am hoping my colleague can explain why the minister refuses to meet with Commissionaires.”
Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, Commissionaires is still the largest employer of Canada’s veterans, and it is a not-for-profit. The government has been meeting with GardaWorld as recently as July, but Commissionaires cannot even get a meeting with the minister, who has not met with Commissionaires since the spring. I am hoping my colleague can share a bit of insight on why the government is refusing to meet with the Commissionaires. If there is an issue about needing to increase the amount of veterans who are working for Commissionaires, that should be a conversation the minister is having. Taking that away and giving it to a private company instead is privatization that has crossed the line. It is over the top. When the member talks about veteran employment, I will tell him what it is like in my riding. In Courtenay, where the Commissionaires is, 60% of those who work for Commissionaires are veterans. I am hoping my colleague can explain why the minister refuses to meet with Commissionaires.