Human Resources Committee on Oct. 3rd, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Go ahead, Madame Chabot, on the motion.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I'll jump in quickly.

I support Ms. Gray's motion. As part of this study, it was originally planned, even by name, for the minister to appear before the committee. We have few opportunities, after all. This motion gives us an opportunity to invite the people represented by these groups to come and talk about the obstacles they are experiencing. The minister was scheduled to appear. I think it's important that we be able to add time to our meetings and complete the study with the minister's response. That strikes me as entirely appropriate.

In fact, today, we brought the report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities back to the House of Commons. I thank the New Democratic Party for this report, which is a motion that we passed on the Canada disability benefit. In my opinion, all issues related to accessibility are important, so I am in favour of the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Chabot.

Seeing no further discussion, we'll vote on the motion that's on the floor.

Quickly, Mrs. Stubbs, go ahead.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Chair, thank you for your indulgence, especially since I am not a permanent member of this committee. However, I am deeply concerned about removing barriers for Canadians with disabilities.

I have a long history of working, through another passion of mine, with therapeutic riding groups for adults and children with a whole variety of disabilities. This is a passion for me personally, which is why I do feel compelled to speak.

Clearly the minister has an extremely powerful role, and clearly what these witnesses are saying is that they need to see action, but they also need to see that action from the minister and from leaders, and all Canadians need to see that leadership from our federal government.

It seems very obvious to me that all the members of this committee should support this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Let's get to a vote, then, seeing no further discussion.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1)

Sorry, Mr. Van Bynen.

Before we adjourn, you will have received a circulated working calendar. It is not public, but it is a working calendar. If there is no dissent, it will become public. It's confidential until it's confirmed.

Mr. Long, go ahead.

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

Chair, I know that MP Van Bynen put a lot of work into his questions to witnesses today, and I'm just wondering if we could ask for unanimous consent to go an extra five minutes for him to ask the witnesses some questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Do we have unanimous consent? We have resources. We started three minutes late.

Mr. Van Bynen, we don't have unanimous consent from Madame Zarrillo.

Order, please.

Madame Chabot, did you have your hand up?

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I wanted to talk about the schedule, Mr. Chair. I have no objection to Mr. Van Bynen asking more questions of the witnesses, if we still have time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We did not have unanimous consent to extend the meeting by five minutes to accommodate Mr. Van Bynen.

I will ask one more time. Do we have unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We do not have unanimous consent.

The working calendar is in the draft that is out. It will be discussed at length at the next working meeting.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I just have one question, Mr. Chair. We barely had 15 minutes to deal with committee business. In our future meetings, do you plan to allocate additional time for committee business, at least 30 minutes?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We'll have a full hour, and the first one is scheduled for Thursday. If you consult the draft calendar that I sent to you, that's where it's at.

With that, committee members, the meeting is adjourned.