Evidence of meeting #123 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was discussion.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thank you.
We now go to CPC-9.1. If CPC-9.1 is adopted, NDP-2.2 cannot be moved because of consistency.
Is there any discussion on CPC-9.1?
Mr. Diotte, go ahead.
9:30 p.m.
Edmonton Griesbach, CPC
The amendment reads:
That Bill C-81, in Clause 15, be amended by adding after line 23 on page 6 the following:
“(2) The Minister must elaborate a plan establishing the objectives to be reached in order to progressively realize a Canada without barriers over a ten-year period.
(3) The Minister must cause the plan to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.
(4) The Minister must, on a continuing basis, collect, analyse, interpret, publish and distribute information in relation to progress made in achieving a Canada without barriers.”
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thank you, Mr. Diotte.
Is there any further discussion on that?
Ms. Hardcastle, go ahead.
9:30 p.m.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to clarify this. Is my amendment coming forward at the same time, then? Are we working on them now? Is it too late for me to change mine now?
9:30 p.m.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Yes, the one that's the same as this one now, CPC-9.1. Mine is NDP-2.2.
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
If CPC-9.1, which we are discussing now, is not passed, we will still go to NDP-2.2. However, if CPC-9.1 is passed, that will make yours basically passed as well.
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
We can get the will of the committee. If there's a feeling that CPC-9.1 will not pass, then you can still make changes to yours, because we will be discussing it next.
9:30 p.m.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Okay. Thank you for indulging me.
After that, I don't know when the appropriate time to do this will be. At what point can I give notice that...? This is going to keep coming up. I want to use a different word than the one before.
If I give notice to you that I want to use the word “shall”—
9:30 p.m.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Yes, for the ones that are coming up, will I have to deal with it in a group?
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
May I make a suggestion, Ms. Hardcastle? Rather than do that, because we would be jumping back and forth.... The reason we're in this predicament is that they're so similar. I would suggest you make an amendment to the CPC or Liberal amendment before yours—
9:30 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
—which is also what you're dealing with. Try to get that done as part of the amendment that comes before yours.
The reason we're in this predicament is that they're very similar. If you try to amend the one before yours, that would address your problem.
9:35 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
It's about whose were submitted first, and yours were submitted last.
9:35 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
You're welcome.
Is there any further discussion?
Mrs. Falk, go ahead.
9:35 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I want to add, on this amendment, that we believe it will help hold the minister accountable, so the minister would be establishing benchmarks for realizing a Canada without barriers, and the minister should establish timelines for meeting those benchmarks. An additional subsection would be added requiring the minister to collect, analyze, interpret, publish and distribute information regarding progress being made towards meeting those benchmarks.
It's another opportunity to hold the minister accountable.
9:35 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
When we're looking at all of these—because I think there are going to be quite a number of them and they are coming from multiple parties, in fact all parties except the Liberal Party—I think it's important to answer the question why. Why do we want timelines? Why do we want accountability of the minister?
We would like accountability of the minister not just for some political gain or for some political purpose or any “gotcha” game in the House of Commons or in this committee. We want accountability for the same reason that all of us care so much about this bill, which is that it's here to help Canadians who are living with disabilities be able to live a more fulsome life and have access to so many more things.
When we don't have accountability, we know what happens. The problem is that when we don't have accountability, the idea we're trying to achieve will not be achieved. It's not just some political game in the House of Parliament. It's real people at home with real issues who are going to be affected by our not putting into place the right triggers, timelines and deadlines to ensure that there is accountability for what is happening on the ground across this country.
9:35 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thank you very much, Mr. Nuttall.
Is there any further discussion on CPC-9.1?
Ms. Hardcastle, is there an amendment you want to bring up on this one? I'm just trying to give you the opportunity in case this passes. It may not, but....
9:35 p.m.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I don't know. I'm lost procedurally. I can't amend mine; I have to amend the one that's here before we know whether it passes or not.