Human Resources Committee on Nov. 8th, 2018

[Kerry Diotte]

It is a start, I would say, but it falls far below the bar. We could have done far better. I think we Conservatives fought very hard to try to get some real teeth, but this is really like a toothless guard dog.

I believe that the Liberals are failing Canadians with disabilities. I think the fact that there are no implementation timelines is a huge thing. It's just unacceptable. We certainly heard some pretty strong language from the countless witnesses who came here. I was quite shocked at how strong their language was, but they're the people we are trying to serve. We listened to them and I truly don't think that, overall, they were heard.

It is not nearly as good as it could be, and I'm quite disappointed. The very fact that there are no timelines and there are exemptions where entities can get out of even having to deal with the bill is shameful, I think.

Of the amendments, how many were taken? Two or three, perhaps, were taken of the 60 amendments that I think would have improved the bill. It's quite disappointing. As I say, it's a start, but it falls far below the bar.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Mr. Hogg.

[Gordie Hogg]

The timelines and extensions have been referenced a number of times, and I think there's a lot more commonality than is being portrayed.

There are a number of principles that we talked about, and the principles can be implemented in a number of different fashions. Not everything should be in legislation. We've referred to the standards, the practices and to accreditation. All of those are important variables in the provision of any types of disabilities.

I was an active participant in the development of disabilities legislation in British Columbia, where we created Community Living B.C. We went through a very similar process and we relied heavily upon input from the people who were part of it. Any good public policy has to have the people who it impacts having not just an important say in it, but also a say in the process by which it becomes implemented.

I believe we have followed the majority of principles that have been put forward. I think there is pretty good agreement on both sides of the House, or all around the House, in terms of those principles. I think there's a disagreement in terms of how they can best be implemented to respond most effectively to the needs of making our country most accessible.

We heard many people coming before us say that we are leading the world in terms of moving forward with this legislation. We're really at the forefront and I think we should be relying on those people who have the ability and the skills within the framework of the legislation, and the practices and the accreditation that we have available to us. I think we have come to a very good balance in terms of being able to do that.

I'm very pleased, delighted and darned excited about what we've been able to achieve.

[An hon. member]

Hear, hear!

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Chair, thank you for your leadership over the last two days. It's very much appreciated.

Certainly on behalf of my riding and on behalf of countless groups across New Brunswick, and in particular southern New Brunswick, we are absolutely thrilled to move forward with Bill C-81.

I'm proud to be part of a government that is moving forward with this legislation after what I would call the previous government's 10 years of non-action—no action. I'm very proud of Bill C-81 and the movements we are taking to move this forward.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Is there any further discussion?

[Gordie Hogg]

I'd like to add that you did a marvellous job as the chairperson. You handled that extremely well.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Thanks very much.

Now we will continue on with the vote.

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the House at report stage?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Excellent.

Well done, everyone.

I appreciate everyone's support to get us through what I have to say is probably a pleasant surprise to all of us, to get this done as expediently as we did.

Certainly, my final comments would be that our thoughts are with Bryan May and his family. I know he was watching last night. Apparently, he is a glutton for punishment.

But, again, just on the number of amendments that were brought through on Bill C-81, I think all of us saw that there was work to do on this bill to ensure it met the goals that were brought forward by our stakeholders. I think as parliamentarians, and as this committee, it now behooves us to ensure that we hold this government, and whatever the next government is, accountable to ensure that they follow through with what we heard from our stakeholders and certainly from the discussions we had here among us as a committee.

Thank you very much for everyone's commitment to this.

Thank you very much to the staff, the clerk and our legislative clerks who guided me through this over the last two days.

I hope everybody has a great constituency week and spends some time with their family and friends.

The meeting is adjourned.