Evidence of meeting #124 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 clause.
A video is available from Parliament.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Clause 68 is similar to what we have addressed a few times. We have LIB-42 and LIB-43. If they are both adopted, CPC-40 cannot be moved due to consistency.
We will start with LIB-42.
Mr. Long.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Mr. Chair, again, this is consequential to LIB-17, LIB-22, LIB-28, LIB-32 and recently LIB-38.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Mr. Chair, again, this is for the publication of rationale for exemptions, and is consequential to LIB-18, 23, 29, 33 and 39.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Chair, I'm going to repeat myself, but that's okay; I'm on record.
We believe that clause 68 in Bill C-81 should be voted down. We just don't believe that exemptions should be granted. Again, there's no principled reason why some organizations should be exempted, especially if accessibility is the goal, and we're trying to shift the culture. I don't think that any federally regulated organization should be exempted.
Could we have a recorded vote, please.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Chair, once again, clause 68 is one that gives the power to exempt to the minister on any terms that the minister considers necessary. That must be omitted from the bill.
(Clause 68 as amended agreed to: yeas 5; nays 3)
(On clause 69)
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
We will finish this clause and then take a bit of a break at 10 o'clock.
We have three amendments proposed for clause 69, and we'll begin with CPC-41.
Mr. Diotte.
Edmonton Griesbach, CPC
Mr. Chair, this is all about strengthening CRTC accessibility plans. We propose that clause 69 be amended by adding after line 29 on page 36 the following:
(1.1) The accessibility plan must include a statement on how it will contribute to the realization of a Canada without barriers.
(Amendment negatived)
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Once again, Mr. Chair, in the preparation of an accessibility plan, the collective agreement bargaining agents for the employees need to be included.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Mr. Chair, this is consequential of LIB-14, LIB-21, LIB-25, LIB-31, LIB-35 and recently LIB-41.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 69 as amended agreed to)
(Clause 70 agreed to)
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Thank you very much, everyone. We'll get back to it.
I've been looking through the rest of the clauses. There are quite a few that don't have amendments, so although it doesn't look like it, we are getting a bit closer.
I think the plan will be that we'll be pushing through until about 11:30 or 11:45, in there somewhere, and taking another five-minute break at that point. They are bringing lunch. Lunch will come and we'll grab it and come back to the table. We'll keep going through it and will not take a lunch break, if that's okay with everyone. We will take another five- or 10-minute break closer to noon. It will be for five or 10 minutes and that's all. We'll try to get done by that one o'clock deadline.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Well, that depends on you guys.
(On clause 71)
The only amendment we have to clause 71 is NDP-30.
Ms. Hardcastle.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Chair, as you know, a lot of times in employer-employee relationships there are a lot of reasons why people are on two different sides of a fence, so to speak. This is a situation where we are removing barriers for people living with disabilities, and some of those people who are affected are indeed employees in these federal jurisdictions.
Why wouldn't we want to strengthen the relationship with labour? Why wouldn't we want to include them in some of the requirements that are laid out in the bill, for instance, to prepare a progress report? This amendment includes the bargaining agents of the employees in the preparation of the progress report. I can't see why that would be something that isn't embraced.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 71 agreed to)
(On clause 72)
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
There are two amendments proposed, and we will begin with LIB-45.
Mr. Long.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Mr. Chair, again, this has been discussed before. It is consequential to LIB-17, LIB-22, LIB-28, LIB-32, LIB-38 and recently, LIB-42.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Mr. Chair, this is referring back to the publication of rationales for exemptions and is consequential to amendments LIB-18, LIB-23, LIB-29, LIB-33, LIB-39 and LIB-43.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 72 as amended agreed to)