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.
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I want to respond to that through you, Mr. Chair, if allowed.
Our job is to make sure this is done to the best quality that it can be. Our opportunity to have wholesome debate should be allowed. I think we should respect where each side is coming from and allow debate to happen.
9:45 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thanks, Ms. Falk.
Are there any other comments on NDP-2.2?
Seeing none, I will call the vote—
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
9:45 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Right—sorry. Ms. Hardcastle requested a recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 5; yeas 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 15 agreed to)
(On clause 16)
We now move to LIB-9.1
Go ahead, Mr. Ruimy.
9:45 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
We heard quite a bit from stakeholders that the duty for the minister to collaborate with provinces and territories should be mandatory. In this case, the amendment is the following:
That Bill C-81, in Clause 16, be amended by replacing line 24 with the following:
“16 The Minister must make every reasonable effort to collaborate with provincial or territorial”
9:45 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thanks, Mr. Ruimy.
There are amendments from the CPC and the NDP that are very, very similar. If we approve LIB-9.1, those other two amendments will be moot. I'm assuming we will have a lot of support for LIB-9.1.
9:45 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Well, the mood may have changed.
(Amendment agreed to)
(Clause 16 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 17)
We move to amendment CPC-11 and Ms. Falk.
9:45 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
We are suggesting that clause 17 be amended by deleting lines 4 and 5 on page 7. This would be amended to state that CASDO is an organization independent or at arm's length from the government.
9:45 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Ms. Hardcastle, your amendment NDP-3.1 is identical. Whatever happens with this one will also be with yours.
Is there any further discussion on CPC-11?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Next is CPC-13.
Is there any discussion on CPC-13?
Go ahead, Ms. Falk.
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I move:
That Bill C-81, in Clause 17, be amended by adding after line 8 on page 7 the following:
“(4) The head office must be without barriers.”
It's not mentioned at all in the bill that the CASDO head office should be accessible. We think it should be a building that has no barriers and is accessible to the people who would be using it.
9:50 p.m.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Is there any further discussion on CPC-13?
Go ahead, Mr. Ruimy.
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
It's actually already being addressed by ESDC policy. It's not really for legislation.
That's our comment.
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
It's already being addressed in ESDC policy. The head office must be barrier-free, and we don't believe it should be in the legislation, because it's already being addressed through a different policy.
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Do you have the policy that you're referring to? It will just really suck if it's one of those things that gets overlooked and then it's not even made accessible to the people on the CASDO board, hopefully two-thirds of which will be people with disabilities, right? That's what we heard from stakeholders, so....
9:50 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Perhaps we can get a response from our trusty folks on the other end.
9:50 p.m.
Director General, Accessibility Secretariat, Department of Employment and Social Development
We can get that policy for the committee. We'll get it very quickly for you.
The Government of Canada, from an accommodations perspective, is bound by the building codes. We are, to the extent possible for the standards that are available, accessible.
9:50 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Just to clarify, the CASDO building will just meet the current standards.
9:50 p.m.
Director General, Accessibility Secretariat, Department of Employment and Social Development
That would be the minimum. The objective would be to exceed current standards where possible.
