This House of Commons committee meeting studied Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, focusing on provisions related to student financial assistance, workforce development, and health programs. Witnesses included Ondina Love from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, Michael Sangster from the National Association of Career Colleges, Robert Henderson from BioTalent Canada, Ayla Azad from the Canadian Chiropractic Association, and Dana Stephenson from Riipen Networks Inc.
Ondina Love emphasized that dental hygienists are essential to the Canadian dental care plan and that the national school food program should embed sugar-smart standards and oral health promotion to prevent tooth decay. She warned that caps on international enrolment and the elimination of Canada student grants for private institutions threaten the supply of dental hygienists, as 63% of graduates come from private colleges. Love praised the expansion of student loan forgiveness to dental hygienists as a strategic workforce tool for underserved areas but urged alignment with federal oral health initiatives.
Michael Sangster argued that eliminating the Canada student grant for learners in programs longer than one year at regulated career colleges will transfer financial hardship to students, many of whom are working adults, career changers, and parents. He noted that 60% of career college graduates are hired within three months and that these institutions train workers for government priorities like child care and dental care. Sangster asked the committee to recommend reversing the grant cut and to pursue targeted reforms instead of broad restrictions based on institution type.
Robert Henderson highlighted that BioTalent Canada has placed over 17,000 people in Canada's bioeconomy through the student work placement program, which is critical for small and medium-sized enterprises that lack HR expertise. He stressed that the program bridges the gap between academia and industry, and that without sustained funding, Canada risks 65,000 unfilled biotech positions by 2029, affecting innovation and health emergency readiness. Henderson supported the bill's alignment of federal supports with Canadian learners and institutions.
Ayla Azad explained that Canada has only two chiropractic programs, forcing 30% of chiropractors to train abroad, and that Bill C-15 risks cutting federal student aid for those studying at private or for-profit institutions abroad. She noted that chiropractors are excluded from student loan forgiveness despite providing essential care in rural areas, and that graduates face $150,000 to $200,000 in debt. Azad asked for continued access to student financial assistance and loan forgiveness for chiropractors trained at accredited institutions, regardless of where they study.
Dana Stephenson described Riipen's work-integrated learning programs, which have delivered over 300,000 experiences at low cost by automating contracts and payments, with 84% of participating small businesses reporting productivity gains. He noted that 76% of learners receive a job offer after the experience and that a new employer co-investment model reduces government costs over time. Stephenson called for continued multi-year federal investment and a nationwide talent network to scale proven models and strengthen Canada's productivity.
After the witness testimony, the committee debated procedural motions. Andréanne Larouche moved a motion requesting that the Department of Employment and Social Development provide the number of cases affected by Curàm software processing errors, broken down by region, before the minister appears. Garnett Genuis moved an amendment to order the information instead of request it. Caroline Desrochers proposed resuming debate on a previously tabled motion regarding the national school food program, and Andréanne Larouche moved an amendment to limit that study to a maximum of four meetings. The meeting adjourned without a vote on these motions.
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