Evidence of meeting #70 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 hospice.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Marika Albert  Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
Thomas Davidoff  Associate Professor, Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, As an Individual
Glenn Miller  Senior Associate, Canadian Urban Institute
Ian Lee  Associate Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, As an Individual
Susan Westhaver  Client Volunteer, Langley Hospice Society

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

A minute?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

One minute.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON

I want to go back to Glenn Miller and the notion of universal design. It extends beyond housing, and I think that's the clear and appropriate thing. I'm curious, as we start to think about that. Universal design is not just for people who age; it's also for much more democratic, inclusive communities, so when we think about that, I'd like your thoughts on whether we focus too narrowly on mobility devices, dipped curbs, buttons for doors, and what have you, and what other areas around universal design we are particularly neglecting as we think about a seniors strategy and accommodation.

5:25 p.m.

Senior Associate, Canadian Urban Institute

Glenn Miller

I think universal design tends to be the domain of people involved in the disability industry, if I can call it that, the people who are dealing with specific issues related to disability.

In the Olympic Village in B.C., there was an effort to introduce universal design into some of the units, and because of the way it was handled, I gather it wasn't received that well, because the generation of seniors moving into those places didn't want to be seen as seniors when their friends came round. There's a version of universal design that is more gentle and does not preclude the ability to adapt later, instead of making something that is very obvious in terms of grab bars and things like that.

I think your point is a very important one: universal design isn't just about the physical environment. It began with the physical environment, but it's actually a philosophy, and just as the age-friendly community is supposed to be good for people of all ages, certainly universal design has the same potential.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Excellent. Thank you very much.

I do have to wrap it up there, since the clock is at 5:29 p.m. We don't really have time to start a new round at all, so I would like to thank everyone for participating today. I thank all of you for bringing forward your testimony. I always learn something new at these meetings.

Mr. Lee, your ideas around autonomous vehicles being a solution for mobility for seniors is not something I'd thought about. I've been in the autonomoose at the University of Waterloo, so that's something I'll be thinking about next time I get a chance to.... It's called the autonomoose. It's a Lincoln, a giant vehicle that's fascinating.

I want to thank everybody, thank all my colleagues, and thank all the people who helped bring us together.

Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.