Human Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I think that's a question better addressed to the minister. That's a political question—

Human Resources committee  The public service loyally implements.

Human Resources committee  Again, Mr. Chair, the role of the public service.... We have provided our advice to the minister and we will loyally implement.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The use of “may” is consistent with Westminster democracies, and it's consistent with drafting. It is enabling legislation. But the decision is the choice of the committee.

Human Resources committee  The Canadian Human Rights Act will prevail.

Human Resources committee  It's quasi-constitutional.

Human Resources committee  If I may add, Mr. Chair, when this bill was tabled, the Minister of Justice tabled a charter statement associated with the bill, and any of those issues would have been required to be flagged when that charter statement was submitted.

Human Resources committee  No, Mr. Chair.

Human Resources committee  There's a consistency issue with the definitions of “barrier” and “impairment” that have been adopted. This becomes far more consistent with the issue of defining “impairment”. People with abilities, by definition, do not have an impairment. I would defer to the member who rais

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The intention from the very beginning was to be as inclusive as possible, recognizing a full range of abilities and disabilities, but as has been pointed out through witness testimony, that's not necessary.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't think it changed the intent. It is a way of drafting definitions. If you go back to the legislation and the interpretation section, you see “Accessibility Commissioner means”, “barrier means” and “broadcasting undertaking has the same meaning....”

Human Resources committee  From a transparency perspective, the decisions around an exemption do have to be published in the Canada Gazette, so there is an accountability mechanism there in terms of making the public aware of a decision by either a minister or the regulatory body. From an appeal perspecti

Human Resources committee  That is correct.

Human Resources committee  I will clarify that exemptions under the act are undertaken in consultation with the accessibility commissioner.

Human Resources committee  She will be responsible for developing a Government of Canada strategy to allow the Government of Canada to become a leader on accessibility.