SPER Committee Meeting

38th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Subcommittee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

EVIDENCE

CONTENTS

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

The Chair (Mr. Ken Boshcoff (Thunder Bay—Rainy River, Lib.))

Mrs. Carol Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, CPC)

Mrs. Anne MacRae (Senior Program Officer, Office for Disability Issues, Department of Social Development)

Mrs. Carol Skelton

The Chair

Mr. Robert Vincent (Shefford, BQ)

The Chair

The Clerk of the Committee

The Chair

Mrs. Carol Skelton

Mrs. Anne MacRae

The Chair

CANADA

EVIDENCE

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

*   *   *

º  (1620)  

[English]

    The Chair (Mr. Ken Boshcoff (Thunder Bay—Rainy River, Lib.)): I call this meeting to order.

[Translation]

    There is a problem

[English]

with the devices for one of our witnesses. People have been searching for quite some time and we haven't been able to find it. I will seek the direction of the committee as to your wishes, because if one of our witnesses is unable to hear, it kind of upsets the whole nature of this committee.

    I will correct that. It is someone who is here as a member of the public and will not be presenting. I suppose one of the alternatives may be to provide the Hansard blues as quickly as possible tomorrow, but it will mean that the guest will not be able to hear. But if there were any committee that everyone should be entitled to hear it's this one.

    So I ask for your advice and direction, members of committee.

    Mrs. Carol Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, CPC): I would like to know if she can lip-read.

    Mrs. Anne MacRae (Senior Program Officer, Office for Disability Issues, Department of Social Development): I use a hearing aid, and without it I can't hear what's being said.

    Mrs. Carol Skelton: Yes, I guess that's a big thing.

    She is here from the general public to hear what's going on--and from the department. I think it's essential that we have the necessary equipment here for her.

    This is a very bad example for this committee to set. I feel very badly that we might have to send our witness home, because that's not why we came. It's a very important subject, but I think it's very unfair to have someone here who isn't able to hear.

    The Chair: Monsieur Vincent.

[Translation]

    Mr. Robert Vincent (Shefford, BQ): I think the same thing.

    The Chair: You think the same thing. As far as I am concerned,

[English]

    I'm afraid I believe we should adjourn this meeting until we can properly be represented and guests and witnesses can be heard so we can do this properly.

    I apologize, Mr. Hill, but I think you understand how important this matter is to us, and of course to our guests.

    Madam Clerk, do we have a vacant date some time in the next...?

    The Clerk of the Committee: We will find one.

    The Chair: I saw that there were a couple of blanks--perhaps in the not-too-distant future, Mr. Hill.

    This matter is important to us; therefore, with the concurrence of the members of committee, we will adjourn until we have all the proper equipment.

º  (1625)  

    Mrs. Carol Skelton: I would like to know if this woman works for the department and is here on behalf of the department. Did she incur costs coming here? If she did, I think the committee should be responsible for those costs. If she's with the department, it should make sure she has adequate equipment next time.

    Mrs. Anne MacRae: I work for the Office for Disability Issues with the social development department, and I'm here as part of my job.

    The Chair: Thank you. I appreciate the gesture.

    This committee stands adjourned, regretfully.