This House of Commons committee meeting of the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) studied youth unemployment. Appearing were Perry Rizzo, President and CEO of Axiom Group Inc.; John Buck, President and CEO of the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation; Alexandre Gagnon and Stéphane Pageau of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec; Rudy Humbert, President and CEO of the Réseau des carrefours jeunesse-emploi du Québec; and Robert Johnson, President of Treasure Mills Inc.
Perry Rizzo argued that Canada’s employment problem is structural, driven by a decade of declining productivity caused by high taxation, uncompetitive operating costs, restrictive bank lending, and excessive red tape. He stated that entrepreneurs are punished rather than rewarded, and that Canada lacks a long-term economic strategy, contrasting this with the U.S. and Mexico where business incentives and speed of approvals are far superior. He recommended lower taxes, reduced input costs, and a long-term national plan to boost manufacturing and job creation.
John Buck focused on English-speaking youth in Quebec, who face an unemployment rate of 14.4% compared to 9% for francophones, and noted that nearly half have only a high school education or less. He described CEDEC’s work on applied research, ecosystem development, and a new employment assistance platform to better connect youth with employers. He recommended that federal programs be designed to address skills mismatches and improve labour market intelligence for minority-language communities.
Stéphane Pageau, speaking for the FCCQ, stated that Quebec’s youth unemployment rate of 11.4% is not alarming when viewed historically and compared to OECD averages, though he noted a rise among male students. He argued that temporary foreign workers are not a cause of youth unemployment, as they fill full-time, skilled positions that students do not seek, and called for a moratorium on restrictions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. He recommended long-term planning to address Quebec’s need for 1.4 million workers by 2033, with immigration aligned to regional labour market needs.
Rudy Humbert described a “perfect storm” of trade war, AI disruption, and inadequate public policies, noting that youth have absorbed 80% of job losses and that 10,000 Quebec students drop out annually. He argued that AI is eliminating entry-level jobs and that young people are disproportionately vulnerable, requiring training to “drive AI rather than be driven by it.” He recommended that federal-provincial labour market agreements be reformed to reduce bureaucratic red tape, broaden eligibility, and ensure funds reach youth directly, and that Employment Insurance be adapted for precarious and atypical work.
Robert Johnson agreed with Mr. Rizzo on productivity and taxation, adding that high taxes and a broken immigration system make it difficult to hire and retain skilled workers. He noted a severe shortage of tradespeople and said that many youth lack market-ready skills after university, while government programs like wage subsidies have had little impact on his business. He recommended bringing trades education back into schools and promoting the higher wages and job security available in skilled trades.
During questioning, witnesses elaborated on their views. Mr. Rizzo and Mr. Johnson both stated that high taxes, red tape, and high living costs make Canada uncompetitive for investment, with Mr. Rizzo citing that his son receives only $4,000 annually in apprenticeship support, unchanged in real terms for decades. Mr. Humbert and Mr. Buck discussed jurisdictional challenges in delivering federal funds to youth in Quebec, with Mr. Humbert noting that 25,000 youth were denied services due to restrictive provincial criteria. Mr. Pageau reiterated that the TFWP is essential for business productivity and that its restrictions harm production. Mr. Gagnon highlighted successful Quebec initiatives like co-op and work-study programs, and called for shorter, more adaptable training programs to keep pace with technological change.
The meeting included a brief procedural interruption when a member raised a point of order about interpretation, which was resolved, and a member livestreamed the proceedings on social media without objection. No motions or votes occurred.
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