Health committee  I think World Autism Awareness Day should rank with the bills that have already been passed by Parliament. You have to mean what you say, right? You can't just get up and say, I have to do this because this is a good little press release and my constituents will like it, and so o

Health committee  There has been a ministerial declaration, and that's a generous act on behalf of the minister, but that's a declaration from a government. What this does is set up a legal framework where Parliament, where you, as a member of Parliament, are speaking on behalf of Canadians; all o

Health committee  I'll talk briefly, and perhaps the other witnesses can say a few words. Meaningful action is what is extremely important. This is not the last step; this is the beginning of many steps, from my perspective, of what we're all trying to do in dealing with it. As I said, the gove

Health committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. It is really a pleasure to be with my parliamentary colleagues this morning. It's Tuesday, October 16. It has been a long journey, but a very positive journey for me, my team, and my office, and for senators—Conservatives and Liberals on the Senate side—in

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Very briefly, Mike was talking about Down's syndrome and the gentleman who works for the Edmonton Oilers. In the Senate, we have a program called Friends of the Senate, and we also walk the walk when it comes to hiring. I just recently, three months ago, hired a Down's syndrome y

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  And I went, “My goodness, this is a wonderful thing....” I just want to finish quickly. There's a story.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Just one small thing. I said, “Bob Dole? How would you know Bob Dole?” He said, “From The Simpsons”, because he was a character. Just to end it--I'm sorry, Ms. Hughes--as you can see, I'm passionate about it like everybody else is around this table. Thank you very much.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I wasn't prepared to do that, but as unaccustomed as I am to public speaking.... I don't have to be elected to sit here. That's an interesting concept.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Well, thank you. I didn't expect to speak. I came to listen, because I think it's very important that senators and members of Parliament listen. I was listening to what Mike was talking about. Of course, Mike and I are working together to try to help those in the autistic commu

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I know, but it wouldn't hurt to have that. We do have meetings with all of these groups here. We've had meetings and Mike's had meetings, and Mike's been a leader. We worked at this and we worked hard together, but I still believe we're working in silos. We've got to step out of