Thank you, Madam Chair.
I very much appreciate the opportunity to speak to this.
First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. Manly for bringing this amendment forward. I think it's fantastic. I think it perhaps doesn't go quite far enough, but at least it's a first step for some protection for those people with disability.
We heard some great testimony on both sides. I believe that we all took something away from it. Probably the ones that touched me the most were from the folks who truly threw their stories out on the table and said, “Here's who we are, here's where we came from and here are the shortcomings of this bill. We're begging and pleading with you for help and support on this.”
This amendment begins to scratch the surface of the help they need, the respect they deserve, on so many fronts. I'm certainly speaking in support of this.
Madam Chair, I have a question for you. I know in our first amendments...you made a ruling on the amendment. Specific to this one, I haven't heard if there is actually a ruling on this one yet. The reason I bring that up, Madam Chair, is just for clarity for all members. I did recognize, in the last round of voting on the amendment, that the mover actually voted for your ruling, which is something that doesn't typically happen. I was wondering if we could have the amendment spoken to, then have your ruling come through, and then go forward.
If I missed something, I apologize in advance.
Thank you, Madam Chair.