Evidence of meeting #13 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pandemic.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you very much, Mr. Earle.
Ms. Renaud, would you like to comment on that as well?
12:35 p.m.
National Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
Yes, thank you.
Absolutely, building off what Kory said, I think a lot of people just do not want to have to put an election on their plate while they're dealing with so many other things. I think even more important than the process of election is that people right now are dependent on these federal and provincial funding initiatives such as EI and, in a lot of small businesses, the Canada emergency wage subsidy.
The last thing you want is a lot of people in Canada worried that these benefits are going to change all of a sudden, as they've all changed dramatically and frequently in the past seven months. A lot of people worry that these benefits could potentially cease with the transition to a new government, so I agree that avoiding an election as much as possible is something that I think the majority of Canadians in poverty and people in poverty are going to support.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you.
One of the mechanisms for voting that has been discussed by some of the witnesses we've heard from has been voting by phone as a way to try to make voting more accessible to people. We've heard that was done in the B.C. election.
I'm wondering if each of you could speak a little to the impacts that voting by phone might have—both pros and cons—for the people you're representing at the committee today.
12:40 p.m.
President, People First of Canada
I think the pros are that it would encourage some people who do have a phone to vote and have that as an option. I think having more options available to Canadians will only increase the voting in this country.
On the flip side, we have to remember that there are so many people in poverty right now who cannot afford technology, cannot afford a phone, and who are struggling. They're using the food banks right now because they can't.... Having a phone is a luxury for some people. That would be the negative side, that so many don't have that ability to connect. Those who do would obviously be welcome to, and I know we talked briefly about that earlier as an option.
12:40 p.m.
National Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
I think Kory brought up an excellent point about people in poverty not always having access to phones, and by voting by phone I assume you mean a call in and not a text in. I just wanted to clarify.
To be quite honest, I did not know that this was something that happened in the B.C. election, and I would be curious about the lessons they learned and how effective this was. I definitely think that, for those who are remote and who do have a landline or a secure phone, I can only see this being a positive option to the various ways to vote.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you.
Ms. Renaud, I know even in normal times there are a lot of barriers to voting for people who live in poverty, particularly when it comes to Canada's homeless population. In the pandemic context, what are some specific things that Elections Canada ought to be thinking about right now in order to use the shelter network as a way of encouraging people to vote safely? What kinds of things and support might that shelter network and other actors who are engaging Canada's homeless population need from Elections Canada in order to minimize the barriers to voting?
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Unfortunately, that's all the time we have. We're on a tight time schedule today, so I'm sorry I can't be more lenient like usual.
Next we have Mr. Tochor, please.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Corey Tochor Conservative Saskatoon—University, SK
Thank you, witnesses, for being here today and, more importantly, for the work you do representing the different groups.
Mr. Earle, with regard to intellectual disabilities, is there a country that has better programs in general for voting by people with intellectual disabilities? Are there countries that are best in class or best examples, countries that have better services for people with intellectual disabilities?
12:40 p.m.
President, People First of Canada
I'm going to ask Shelley if she can take this one.
12:40 p.m.
Executive Director, People First of Canada
Thank you for asking that question.
People First of Canada is part of an organization called Inclusion International. We do work with many countries across the world. I'm proud to say, believe it or not, that Canada is one of the leaders in this area for people with intellectual disabilities. There are many, many countries across the world in which people with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to vote. Even in some of the countries that are quite progressive, capacity is questioned and people are not given the right to vote.
Canada is viewed as one of the leaders in the area of intellectual disability and the right to vote.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Corey Tochor Conservative Saskatoon—University, SK
I do believe we live in the best country in the world, so it warms me a little bit that, at least in this regard, maybe other countries can take our lead.
The pandemic has affected many different things. For your organization, has funding by the federal government decreased or increased during this pandemic, either hurting or helping your ability to represent your association?
12:40 p.m.
President, People First of Canada
Shelley, do you want me to respond? No, go ahead.
12:45 p.m.
Executive Director, People First of Canada
Our funding has not changed. In fact, we've actually had a small increase in funding to do a very specific project around COVID and people with intellectual disabilities. We've done work on providing plain language. A lot of the news coming out about COVID is not written...or the resources...or what does PPE mean.... We've done a lot of work over the last eight months on translating resources into plain language so all people can understand them, and we have been given a little bit of money to do that.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Corey Tochor Conservative Saskatoon—University, SK
Thank you very much.
Ms. Renaud, I applaud your work and your association in helping people in tougher situations. It's obvious that COVID-19 has probably caused more people to seek the services and unfortunately to be in poverty.
Following an election, would it be fair to say that one of the most beneficial aspects that a government or a future government could consider would be providing the right climate for economic growth so that more individuals would have the dignity of work and the inherent virtue of work availability?
12:45 p.m.
National Coordinator, Canada Without Poverty
If I understand correctly, you're speaking more broadly to future government actions to reduce economic inequality and social inequality to empower everyone to live in dignity, to live at a dignified level so that people are not just getting the bare necessities but are living comfortably. To that I say, absolutely.
I think the way we phrase it is that it is not just economic growth but also things like our social security system and our welfare system. Right now they're all offering income payments that are below the poverty line, so it would be the federal government working with the provinces to better support those provinces to provide dignified income supports and to provide things like housing. I think these are all greater systemic issues that will allow people to live not so precariously and not so desperately just to meet the bare necessities.
Once those are met, and once people can live in dignity, they can better engage in democratic processes and can better engage in things like voting, because they will feel as though they have the time and energy to give to the voting processes, which takes a lot of time to reflect and think critically about.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Madam Chair, I believe Ms. Duncan is going to take my time.
November 26th, 2020 / 12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Earle, Ms. Fletcher and Ms. Renaud, I would like to say thank you for the work you do. Thank you for your important testimony today.
Mr. Earle, thank you for the work you do in long-term care. It's not an easy time right now, and we appreciate your work.
I like what you wrote before. You said that you want to especially encourage people with intellectual disabilities to vote, as it is their right, and they should use it. What would help your members to vote?
12:45 p.m.
President, People First of Canada
It's so great to see you, Ms. Duncan. We've crossed paths over the years. You've been a huge champion of pushing the agenda forward, so thank you.
We have to recognize that in order for people to vote, we need to make sure all tools are accessible. We'll continue to push for photos on ballots. We'll continue to make sure that this is an avenue that our members have strongly been supportive of.
We also want to encourage that many take the opportunity to work during an election as well. Give them that opportunity and experience because it's extremely important when you hear so many saying, “Have you applied for a job?” We know so many people who are below the poverty line who would really benefit even from the experience of that.
We talked a bit about phone voting. That certainly would help. On that, I'm curious about how B.C. handled that and what members took from that. Mail-in ballots are extremely important, but also make sure that everyone works together to make sure that the people have that information so they know who to vote for and who the candidates are. Although writing is valid and all of that, it's very challenging for a lot of our members. That's why a lot of us have our support workers who will do that.
The other thing is that when people have support workers who at this point can only help one person in the group homes and institutions, it's really important that these workers be able to help more than one person. So many across this country who are in isolation don't actually have families or have that support connection. That would help the homeless, etc., having that support aspect.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Earle, it's so good to see you too. I'm very delighted to see you today, and thank you for that.
Mr. Earle and Ms. Fletcher, I know People First of Canada has had Zoom meetings with their members across the country. I'm wondering if you would like to tell us about what people's experiences are right now during COVID-19.
12:50 p.m.
President, People First of Canada
Absolutely. We just held an event not too long ago called Conversations with Kory. I can't begin to tell you the struggles people are going through.
One at the top of mind right now is the mental health crisis in this country. People are isolated. People are lonely. Just think about all of us at the end of the day. All of us get to go home. So many don't. Many are struggling because they're alone and have no one next to them. Many have shared their tears that they just want this whole pandemic to be over. Many have said that they're worried about the holidays even being worse for them. Many have shared how their mental health crisis has not only increased but it's really made them think what there is to life when there's nothing to do any more.
These are stories of everyday Canadians. People face such difficulty. They don't have that ability. They are lonely and so many of them are isolated today. Just think about some people who are in group homes, etc., who already feel that way as is, but now they cannot hang out with the people they wish to hang out with.
When people across the country shared their experiences, we could only say that we felt hopeless, because that's what we felt. We felt hopeless because we wanted to help each and every person to have the best quality of life. Before the pandemic, people's lives were hanging in the balance. During the pandemic, they still hang in the balance and the struggles that they go through have only become a lot more severe.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Earle, thank you. They're lucky to have you and the fact that you listen. We appreciate that.
Ms. Fletcher, do you want to add to Mr. Earle's words, please?