Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

This House of Commons committee meeting of the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) on February 5, 2026, studied the budget implementation act (Bill C-15) and also considered motions related to the Cúram software system and housing starts. The witnesses were Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development, and Cliff Groen, Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development and Chief Operating Officer for Service Canada.

Paul Thompson, when asked by a Conservative member, confirmed that the government still intends to implement the budget provisions on page 217 that would limit Canada Student Grants to students at public and not-for-profit private institutions, despite those provisions not being in the budget implementation act. He did not provide a timeline for when those measures would be introduced.

Cliff Groen, responding to a Liberal member's question about delays in Old Age Security benefits, stated that the vast majority of recipients receive their benefits on time but acknowledged some delays exist. He said the department is doing everything it can to address those situations as quickly as possible and will prioritize urgent cases.

The committee debated a Bloc Québécois motion to invite ministers Patty Hajdu and Joël Lightbound to testify about the Cúram software system and delays in processing Old Age Security claims. The Bloc member argued that the number of affected seniors has been unclear, with estimates ranging from 30 cases to 2% of new applicants, and that the cost overruns on the system have been significant. The Liberals proposed a friendly amendment to move the appearance date to mid-March, which was accepted, and then withdrew a second amendment to reduce the testimony time to one hour per minister, allowing the original motion for two hours each to proceed.

The committee also debated a Conservative motion to study housing starts in relation to federal programs, proposing at least six meetings with the Minister of Housing and the CEO of CMHC appearing separately. The Liberals proposed an amendment for no less than four meetings and to require a government response under Standing Order 109. The Conservatives opposed reducing the number of meetings but indicated they might support the government response requirement later. The debate was adjourned when the minister arrived to testify on the budget.