Evidence of meeting #29 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was minority.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, Mr. Fast hasn't asked a question. I believe that's the intention of having witnesses. It's not to make speeches, but indeed to ask a question. Could you direct him to do so, please?
Conservative
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
There is a question forthcoming, and I also remind the chair that Mr. Julian many times has waxed eloquent in his introductions to questions and in prefacing questions.
I'll go on to say that I find it of great concern that you would infer motives that you have no proof of to either an organization like the CTF or this government.
I did want to ask a question of Mr. Rollason.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Rollason, I want to assure you that certainly the members on the government side of this table have a great deal of empathy for you, and I'm glad that you were successful in the process of asserting the rights that your daughter has for assistance.
I just want to clarify. The quashing of your daughter's rights took place not under a Conservative government, as perhaps Mr. Julian wanted to suggest. That occurred under the previous Liberal government. Is that correct?
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
All right. Your concern is that this might reoccur if there isn't a challenge of those kinds of actions.
As an Individual
No matter what you do around this table, whatever other committees do around the table, mistakes can be made. People might just not dream of the possible ramifications that could be out there.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
What I did want to do was ask you as well if you are aware of the announcement that Finance Minister Flaherty made this past week about a study that was done regarding the disabled.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
All right. Today he actually commented on that in question period in the House of Commons.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
In his response he stated that the government must better enable parents to set aside funds to financially support a child with a severe disability when they are no longer able to provide support. He said he looked forward to reviewing the panel's advice on how this objective could be achieved.
Have you had a chance to review that?
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, we on this side have been rather respectful of the proceedings of this committee in terms of questioning of witnesses and so forth. I'd invite the members of the government side to be as respectful of the proceedings.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
With due respect, Mr. Chair, I do recall that that very member has, on occasion, taken members or witnesses to task for statements they've made. I've taken the opportunity to do the same thing. I've asked a question of Mr. Rollason. I would appreciate it if the member, Mr. Bélanger, would not interrupt when I'm questioning the witness. I haven't interrupted him.
So, again, Mr. Rollason, the question is—
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
—whether you believe that moving forward with some of the recommendations of that expert panel would be helpful with respect to the kinds of challenges your daughter faces.
As an Individual
They would be helpful. I'd say there may be some things I don't know about. Certainly, from what I understand, it's like an RESP program, which means any money that goes into it is after tax. It might be, from my point of view, better if it were like an RRSP program. On the other hand, we have incomes, so we're able to put money into it. Other people who don't have income might not be able to put money into it.
In terms of us, I can't forecast, in two or three years, if this were to become policy, what another family that may be just like mine might find in the program. With the change from UI to EI, maybe there's something else that would come out of that that might not help a family out there. I just can't say for sure.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Well, hopefully our government won't put any others in that position.
Thank you.
