Evidence of meeting #42 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was inclusive.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Disability and Refugee Rights Advocate, As an Individual
My closing thought is this: I would encourage proper data collection and proper training for humanitarian staff so they can be more inclusive in their initiatives in regard to education—to know how to integrate people with disabilities and factor them into the building blocks, not leave them as an afterthought.
Liberal
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB
By way of compromise, given the conversation we had before, I have this suggestion. At this point, neither the Bloc nor the NDP have had questioning rounds, whereas we got seven minutes each. I'd suggest that the Bloc and the NDP each get their seven-minute questioning rounds. Then, I'm fine if we end.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Fayçal El-Khoury
I would like to ask whether you want to give up some of your time, taking two and a half minutes each. How about that?
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I honestly cannot stay past 1:00. This is unfortunately where we're at.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My question is for Mr. Nhan-O'Reilly.
Mr. Nhan-O'Reilly, you gave the example of Sierra Leone in terms of changing laws and regulations for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Can you give us any examples other than Sierra Leone of legal frameworks that have been effective in implementing obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
Executive Director, International Parliamentary Network for Education
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It's a great question.
In the short time that's available, rather than call out particular examples, I think, really, that this is work for us all. This is something we should focus very much on.
I was doing some research in advance of this session on good practice, good examples and tool kits for disability-inclusive education, legislation, policy and practice, and it wasn't readily available. That was one of the recommendations I made in my testimony: In trying to implement Mr. Lake's resolution and encouraging the Government of Canada to think about what more it could do on this, supporting parliaments and parliamentarians around the world to share good practice and identify what good looks like is really essential.
We have a fantastic enabling instrument in the form of the declaration on the rights of persons with disabilities, but enacting that into legislation can take many forms. I think a community of practice of parliamentarians focusing on that would be very powerful.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Fayçal El-Khoury
Thank you.
I would like to ask if it is the will of the committee to adjourn now.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Chair, several people have spoken. It is not the will of the committee members to continue.
We want to adjourn.
