Evidence of meeting #41 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was benefit.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you so much.
Ms. Khedr, I have a question about persons with disabilities who are not going to work and who need to have those income supports. Perhaps you could give me some information about the fact that a provincial government is not able to cover all of this and why in this area it is so important for the federal government to step in.
National Director, Disability Without Poverty
Essentially, in Ontario, for example, somebody living in a group home receives $1,227. The institution where they live charges them for room and board, approximately $1,075. They're left with just around $150 or so for their basic needs. With the recent 5% increase, essentially they received a $5 increase.
If they do not have family to supplement their basic needs, then they are forced into a life of poverty—again, by no doing of their own. They were born with a genetic condition that gave them the journey of life to live with autism, with global developmental delay, with cerebral palsy, with Down's syndrome and so on. In many cases, it's so severe that they don't even understand the concept of work, or it's simply that the nature of the disability they have prevents them from being productive enough to earn.
Everybody desires work. People with intellectual disabilities desire a job. They want to be productive. However, in terms of the barriers to employment they face, not every barrier can be remedied or accommodated. In many cases, as I said, there are people like my late brother, who did not understand the concept of work. My brother, who lives in a group home right now, wants to work, but he just cannot hold down a job due to the nature of his disability. If I were not there, if my parents were not there, if his family were not there, he would be offered charity for his clothes, for his hygiene products or for any personal care items that he would need, because the income he has left is insufficient. If he did not live in a group home environment, well, he would be on the street, because he wouldn't be able to afford rent.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
We'll conclude the last session this afternoon with Mr. Aitchison and then Mr. Van Bynen, for four minutes each.
Go ahead, Mr. Aitchison.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks, everybody, for all the presentations today.
I understand that the public process is sometimes time-consuming on purpose, and it's important to get things right. However, this is one of those areas where I hear you loud and clear. We've been talking about this for an awfully long time, and it seems a little frustrating that we're still talking and not moving along quickly...maybe more quickly is the appropriate description.
I would like to start with Thomas.
You indicated a couple of points that you were suggesting could improve this bill. The one that stuck out for me—I know it's been mentioned before—is that this must be done in conjunction with what you described as an employment strategy. I trust that the CNIB will in fact be presenting its suggested amendments to this.
Could you speak briefly—because we don't have a lot of time—about what an employment strategy might look like and what it needs to encompass?
Executive Director, Public Affairs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Sure. Based on the last research that the CNIB conducted, people who are blind or partially sighted have a full-time employment rate of 31%, which is quite abysmal.
A national employment strategy must be one that takes into consideration a few things.
It needs to ensure that the skills development is there to enable people who have a disability to go into the workforce and be successful at the job they wish to do. It needs to take into consideration the cognitive load of job-seeking, what it means to have to compete again and again for a role, and the barrier that may create for someone who wants to become employed.
More importantly, it needs to take into consideration the cultural and attitudinal changes of employers. I don't think many Canadians who are employers actively seek not to hire people with a disability. However, I don't know that they know what they don't know, if that makes sense—the unknown barriers that they create. Employers need to understand that a bit better, and the benefits that an individual who has a disability—or is blind or partially sighted, in the case of the CNIB—will bring to employment.
Accessibility enhancements also need to be considered to ensure that people can get into their workplace, be it a ramp or those newfangled elevators, for example: You press a screen that has no tactile buttons that then visually shows you which elevator to go into. If you're blind or partially sighted and you can't do that to get to the floor you need to get to on your first day, how are you going to be successful?
There are a number of different things that need to be taken into consideration for a comprehensive employment strategy.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Very quickly now, because I'm down to a minute, I'm thinking in the context of Ontario, because that's the area I know best as a former mayor. AODA covers an awful lot of these types of issues for employers, for accessibility and the design of public spaces, for example.
How would the federal government fit into some of the existing provincial legislation, which I think covers a lot of the areas you're discussing?
Executive Director, Public Affairs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
The federal government could do a number of different things.
Public awareness campaigns are always great to try to ensure that people understand the importance of this work. It could work with organizations that are doing the work to ensure that their programmatic offerings are trying to do that, whether it's skills development, mentorship for people with disabilities or outreach to potential employers to open the doors for employment opportunities.
Conservative
Scott Aitchison Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
I have seven seconds, so I guess I'm done.
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Aitchison.
I have Mr. Van Bynen for the final four minutes.
October 31st, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I appreciate all the information we've been receiving from this group. It certainly is eye-opening and important for us to understand.
As a former mayor as well, I know some municipalities have disability advisory groups for their municipalities. I'm hoping that, to some extent, that can be folded into some of the programs we have here.
Mr. Simpson, you mentioned earlier that we need to make sure the national employment strategy complements this disability....
I know we committed $285 million as an employment strategy for people with disabilities. Can you tell me how we might be able to bridge that into what's being proposed here?
Executive Director, Public Affairs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Absolutely. As I said, social assistance needs to be a trampoline from poverty to employment for those individuals who can and want to work. It's to have an alignment where there are opportunities for people who are eligible for what will become this Canada disability benefit to, at the same time, receive information on employment agencies or organizations that serve people with disabilities, who have employment programming as well.
Again, social assistance shouldn't be a net to capture people in but a trampoline to help propel them to the goals and wishes they have.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
It's a great analogy. I believe Napoleon Bonaparte said that he who sits in the saddle best knows where it pinches, and so your engagement in this process is truly appreciated.
I will cede the balance of my time to Mr. Morrice.
Green
Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.
My name is Mike Morrice. I'm the member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre.
Thanks to each of the organizations here today for your really important advocacy.
Rabia shared earlier her comments about people with disabilities wanting to work. I want to briefly share some comments from a constituent of mine who emailed me over the weekend. These were his words: “We should not be doomed to poverty because a rich person fears we won't work if we are aided.” I hope members of this committee will keep that in mind.
In terms of the work this committee will get to do, there's a chance to put forward amendments. I want to ask this of the CNIB folks in particular. One of the amendments you suggested was about requiring regulations to come into force within a particular amount of time. Could you share more about what you envision with that amendment?
Executive Director, Public Affairs, Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Absolutely. Thank you very much for that, Mr. Morrice.
As I shared earlier, while HUMA, in Bill C-81, was studying the legislation, the disability community sought out timelines for which regulations would be developed. I think it's very apt here that we learn from the same success.
The minister spoke today of her wish for the regulations to be done within a year. Why not legislate that within the framework that is here in front of you as Bill C-32?
I'm no lawyer. I'm sure you can figure out where it fits properly.
Green
Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON
Do any of the other witnesses want to share any proposed amendments related to the timeliness? We've heard from so many in the disability community about the urgency they're looking to see parliamentarians move with. Would either Ms. Kelndorfer or either of the folks from Disability Without Poverty want to share amendments with respect to the timeliness of the bill?
Chair, Board of Directors, Disability Without Poverty
I would just like to say that we need to think about the timeliness of this in terms of the crisis it is for disabled people.
We've done so many things in the last two years that we never thought we were going to have to do. We've rolled out a whole vaccination program. We've rolled out various benefits. We can do this. We have the capacity as a country to roll out this benefit to disabled people in less than a year if we all believe it's the national crisis that disabled people who live in poverty see it as being. Whether that's an amendment or whether it's just my words saying that things need to move, I'll leave it there.
National Director, Disability Without Poverty
This is Rabia, from Disability Without Poverty. I will echo Michelle's sentiment that where there's a will, there's a way.
One story of a disabled person living in poverty represents and reflects thousands of untold stories. We don't need to consult more. We don't need to hear more. We need to roll up our sleeves, get the job done and deliver the money to the people who need it most. It will stimulate our economy at the same time, let's not forget. We all need this benefit to flow quickly.
Director, Government Relations and Advocacy, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Thank you for this opportunity.
It's exactly what Michelle and Rabia have said. Our community wants us to prioritize this legislation as quickly as possible. The urgency is there, and we need it yesterday. Whatever we can do to ensure that it moves as quickly as possible is what our community is asking for.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you to the witnesses. Thank you so much for your testimony this afternoon.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adjourn?