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
You're welcome.
Now we'll have the vote to carry clause 47 as amended.
(Clause 47 as amended agreed to)
(Clause 48 agreed to)
(On clause 49)
We have NDP-14.
Ms. Hardcastle.
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Chair, once again, as I discussed earlier, we have an example where we have the opportunity for synergy without potential conflict. A regulated body in preparation of its progress report should be enlisting the collective agreement, should be enlisting the bargaining agent to prepare this report.
Otherwise, you're going against a current. If we're trying to move this legislation forward and have it be impactful and ensure that we are evolving, then we have to include a very important component of the employer-employee synergy, which is the bargaining agent, the collective agreement.
Under federal jurisdiction, the majority of the people we're talking to in this legislation have such relationships. These employer-employee relationships include public sector employees who have collective agreements.
I urge you once again to please look at this and let common sense reign and include the collective agreements in these stipulations.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 49 agreed to)
(On clause 50)
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Mr. Chair, again, this is consequential to LIB-17. It's the same thing for three-year time limits.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC
Chair, this is the publication of rationales on exemptions, a consequential amendment to LIB-18.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 50 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 51)
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Again, this is consequential to the amendments made earlier.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Edmonton Griesbach, CPC
We'd like clause 51 amended by adding after line 2 on page 23, 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, what we're trying to do is make the accessibility commissioner the one who is responsible for this. Right now it's splintered. We have these different entities who have responsibility. It's very problematic for a variety of reasons that I don't need to go into because we heard a lot of testimony about it.
We have an opportunity here to make sure that we're moving the position of the accessibility commissioner into the position it should be in, in overseeing all of these different entities—not different entities in charge of themselves. The CRTC or the CTA shouldn't be notifying itself or enforcing itself, or entities within its jurisdiction. If it's carrying out direction from the accessibility commissioner, that's an entirely different matter. That is more in keeping with this legislation.
Right now, as it's splintered, it is extremely problematic.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
I will follow up on those comments.
I think it's important, too, that within the accessibility commissioner there's that level of accountability and transparency. I think that sends a statement to the people in the disability community that we're taking this seriously.
We heard from witnesses, too, on the importance of having the one body being the accessibility commissioner. It was referenced over and over again.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Here's another example of where we need to be embracing our relationship within the labour community which has very clearly told us that they do see opportunity for synergy. Right now they can be included. The collective agreement, the bargaining agents of employees, can certainly be included in a very meaningful way in the preparation of an accessibility plan.
That just makes for smooth sailing for everybody, so include them. You have to prepare an accessibility plan. Why wouldn't you want your bargaining agent for your employees involved? It makes no sense to me to not include this.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Mr. Chair, this is consequential to amendments LIB-14 and LIB-21.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 51 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 52)
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Once again we have an issue where it is the accessibility commissioner who should be in charge here, not the CRTC. The issue of splintering the regulatory oversight is a misguided approach and we can correct course with an amendment like this and the others that were already defeated.
I sound like I'm taking a defeatist attitude. But it is important that the accessibility commissioner is the entity that is in charge—truly in charge.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 52 agreed to)
(On clause 53)
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Once again, this amendment reflects the importance of the accessibility commissioner and that we are not splintering enforcement and regulatory oversight.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
NDP
Cheryl Hardcastle NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Once again, it's important that this bill not undermine workers' rights and that we do include collective agreements in partnership with realizing our barrier-free Canada.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 53 agreed to)
(On clause 54)