Evidence of meeting #7 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
Having said that, I think our responsibility for disabilities is a huge one. It's important, and I'm not suggesting that the study on adoption is not, but I don't think it should take an enormous amount of time. I think we should focus on our primary responsibility.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
With respect to the adoption study, I don't think it needs to be long, but it needs to be fairly comprehensive and we need to do a good job, whatever it takes. Mr. Watson is pretty passionate about it, and we want to be sure that the areas of concern to him are covered and that we hear what we need to hear to come forward with a good report, whatever that means. However, it doesn't have to be a particularly long report in doing that.
Having said that, I speak with some trepidation, because I wouldn't want anyone to change their mind after hearing me speak, but I know I was opposed to having a subcommittee dealing with the issue of disabilities because I think it deserved the hearing of this larger committee. I know we did a study with a narrower perspective back in 2005. Mr. Martin was there, and I think I was and Madame Folco also. It was a worthwhile study, but it was fairly narrow in scope. This committee is coming to the end of what we've been doing in a major way, and it would be good to start another more major project, and certainly the area of disability would be a good one. I think it deserves the attention of the entire committee, as opposed to a subcommittee, so I would certainly be supporting it personally. I haven't talked to a whole lot to my colleagues as to where we stand on that, but it seems like a reasonable approach down the road.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen
Good, so it sounds that if you bring forward a motion, there will be support for it.
Madame Folco.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I'm not going to say this too often, so take advantage of it, Mr. Komarnicki, but I certainly support what you've just said. One of the problems with having a subcommittee is that some of our committee members here will also have to be on the subcommittee and will have twice as many meetings. That's one other reason, apart from the ones Mr. Komarnicki mentioned, that makes it so difficult.
Disabilities are part of our objective and our committee name, “status of persons with disabilities”. It's really important to move on with that. I would absolutely go for having a full committee and full study on this. I think the time has come.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen
Good. Then we are in agreement and will look at a motion.
However, I will just come back to my original request that we are going to be looking at adoption. So if you do have certain areas that you want addressed or certain witnesses you want to bring forward, start thinking about them, but in the meantime we'll get Mr. Watson here.
Of course our priority is finishing up the poverty study. We just have a couple of last witnesses that we're having trouble arranging, but we are making every effort and then we'll be looking at the poverty study while finishing up the private members' business that we need to do.
Mr. Lessard.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Madam Chair, I think we need to hear Mr. Watson to find out if we will need to hear witnesses. I am not sure I understand what outcome he is seeking with his motion. Listening to my colleagues, I think they are in the same boat. Perhaps we have understood, but we are not sure. In light of what he is going to tell us, we will see whether we need witnesses.
As for persons with disabilities, I think this should be a priority. If we can't start work this spring, at least we could start planning our work for the fall regarding the status of persons with disabilities.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Madam Chair, I'm trying to find out if we have a schedule of our upcoming meetings. I wonder if you or the clerk could send out to our offices whatever we have confirmed from now until the end of May or even to the end of the session.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen
Yes, we can do that. There has been quite a bit of.... We've had to change things, but we'll send you what we have confirmed.
Are there any other comments or questions? Is there any other business?
Mr. Martin.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
We haven't decided yet on a date for that trip into Quebec, have we?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen
No. We are just going to finalize.... What I'm looking at is April 13, either that or the following Tuesday. We'll probably look at a couple of dates and send them to you. We will have to decide very quickly.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Candice Bergen
All right.
I think we are all finished. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Madame Folco so moves.
The meeting is adjourned. Thank you.