Human Resources Committee on Nov. 8th, 2018

[Kerry Diotte]

Is it clause 31 that we're looking at?

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

That's the clause.

[Kerry Diotte]

Right. Basically, we feel that the bill should be amended to require the minister to designate an acting replacement for the CEO within 90 days of the CEO's absence or incapacity, unless the CEO is known to be returning to the office within 90 days. We would ask for a wording change there. It's pretty straightforward.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 31 agreed to)

(On clause 32)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

We're on to CPC-27.

Mr. Diotte.

[Kerry Diotte]

The amendment proposes subclause 32(1.1).

We feel the bill should be amended to require the CASDO CEO to consult with the CASDO board when selecting membership of an advisory committee to assist CASDO with developing accessibility standards. Again, it's pretty straightforward.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 32 agreed to)

(On clause 33)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

We're on to CPC-28.

Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

The amendment states:

Officers and employees must be provided with appropriate training in matters related to accessibility.

I think this is a recurring theme. Even when this committee studied Bill C-65, we saw the importance of training. It's part of that education component. We should amend this clause so that all officers and employees receive training on accessibility. Even though it seems redundant, and a cliché, even, it's important to make sure we don't make any presumptions or assumptions that people have all the education they need. It's about being able to provide that extra top-up.

(Amendment negatived)

(Clause 33 agreed to)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

We now have amendment CPC-29.

Ms. Falk.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

We're asking that Bill C-81 be amended by adding before line 18 on page 12 the following new clause:

33.1(1) In carrying out its mandate, the Standards Organization must, on a continuing basis, (a) hold public consultations on the accessibility standard it should next develop and on any proposed accessibility standard; and (b) make available to the public progress reports respecting the development of accessibility standards. (2) The Standards Organization must make available to the public the minutes of meetings of the board of directors and of advisory or other committees. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the minutes of meetings must include the text of all proposed accessibility standards considered at the meeting.

This is basically adding a level of transparency and accountability to the CASDO board.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Again, Ms. Hardcastle, yours is very similar. Do you want to speak to this now?

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

In order to increase or ensure the transparency, it's not unreasonable to expect the standards organization to have public meetings, to make public their minutes, to make public their progress reports and to include the text of any standards that are being deliberated on at meetings. That's very reasonable to expect. Unfortunately, unless it's articulated, it may not happen and that transparency may not be achieved.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

I will now ask for unanimous consent for the vote to be applied for clauses 34 and 35 as is. Is everybody okay with that?

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

Agreed.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Clause 34 was not amended?

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

It was not amended.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

We're running these two together?

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

Yes, clauses 34 and 35 together.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

No.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

You want to do them separately?

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Yes.

(Clause 34 agreed to)

(Clause 35 agreed to)

(On clause 36)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

That brings us to clause 36 and NDP-7.

Ms. Hardcastle.

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Here again, this amendment is a way for us to ensure transparency:

The Minister must publish the report on the departmental website within 10 days after the day on which the report is received by

(Amendment negatived)

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

We have clauses 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 that are as is. I'm going to ask for unanimous consent to apply the vote to all of those.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, Mr. John Barlow]

(Clauses 36 to 41 inclusive agreed to)

Look at what we can get done. There's not as much fight in everybody in the morning.

(On clause 42)

We will go to LIB-13.

Mr. Morrissey.