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.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
This refers back to the appeals of the CHRT and is consequential to amendments LIB-47, LIB-49 and LIB-50.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I'm just wondering if it has to state “in accessible format”, because pending even the accessibility commissioner..., and if they are somebody who has disabilities, that's just so that it would be in a format that's accessible.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
So you're adding that as a suggestion for subclause 106(3) and that's after “and the parties to the appeal”? So it's “A copy of the order...must be...in accessible format”.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
—“must be provided in accessible format” is what I think they are—
Liberal
Ramesh Sangha Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
When we read the definitions at clause 2 of the bill, I think it's totally described there who is in need of the benefits and how they are to be provided. If it is not, that has to be in the definitions. The rest, everything, will flow throughout the whole act.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I think right now we're looking at everything through an accessibility lens. But even, for example, with the prior amendment, we can't assume that it's implied, because it clearly wasn't previously. I think that we just have to be extra cautious that we are looking through the lens and putting that accessibility hat on, and looking through every one of these clauses just so we don't become complacent.
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
It hasn't been put forward as a subamendment. I think it's just a discussion right now.
Mr. Ruimy.
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
No, no. What we're trying, number one, is to keep it consistent with the rest of the motions we have been putting through on the CHRT. This motion will facilitate by clearly setting out what the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal can and cannot do in dealing with an appeal, avoiding confusion and uncertainty in the process.
Perhaps James can help us here, because from my recollection of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, 60% of complaints came from disability.
We need to keep consistent throughout the whole bill with this. What can you tell us about that?
Director General, Accessibility Secretariat, Department of Employment and Social Development
Apologies, Mr. Chair, I'm not clear on the question.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
Does it have to be specific in the wording, James, that submissions to the commission or the tribunal have to be accessible documents that can be accessed by people with various disabilities?
Director General, Accessibility Secretariat, Department of Employment and Social Development
No it does not. Further, I would say the tribunal's administrative structure that sits in behind it would be a regulated entity, and so it would be subject to the regulations and standards brought forward under the act.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I guess this goes back to my question. If this is coming from other departments or the tribunal or whatever it is, I don't see them looking at something with the disability or accessibility lens. Again, I just really hope that there is not going to be a hole in there, and 10 or 20 years down the road we find out that, oh look, they're providing inaccessible documents, and the commissioner can't even access them, maybe because of their disability or accessibility requirements.
Liberal
Ramesh Sangha Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Again, the big lens is this act. This act provides everything about barriers: how to be barrier-free, what a disability is, what a barrier is. Everything is explained in clause 2. Let's leave everything for subclause 117(1) to form the regulations and bylaws under that. That's where things will be regulated.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 106 as amended agreed to)
The Vice-Chair Mr. John Barlow
I will ask for unanimous consent to group the votes on clauses 107 to 110.