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44 th Parliament, 1 st Session

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THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, April 6, 2022

(11) [ English ]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 31, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met in camera this day in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference at 4:01 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Kutcher, McPhedran, Omidvar, Patterson and Petitclerc (5).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Bernard, Bovey, Dasko, Lankin, P.C., Moodie, Poirier and Verner, P.C. (7).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Housakos and Loffreda (2).

Participating in the meeting : Andrea Mugny, Procedural Clerk, Sébastien Payet, Legislative Clerk, Marc-André Lanthier and Lori Meldrum, administrative assistants, Committees Directorate; Laura Blackmore, Analyst, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee discussed in camera a draft agenda (future business).

At 4:54 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:03 p.m., the committee resumed in public.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-203,

An Act respecting a federal framework on autism spectrum disorder.

It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-203.

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed that the

preamble stand postponed.

It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the

short title, stand postponed.

The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Moodie moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by adding the following after line 3:

“ (0.

a) timely and equitable access to screening and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder;”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Bernard moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing line 8 with the following:

“ (

c) a national network to promote research”.

After debate and with leave, the amendment was withdrawn.

The Honourable Senator Kutcher moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing lines 14 to 16 with the following:

“ (

e) sustained, accessible and culturally relevant resources, available online and elsewhere, on best available evidence-based information to support autistic persons, their families and caregivers, including information on effective treatments and ineffective or harmful treatments;”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing line 18 with the following:

“federal funds for autistic persons and their families; and

(

g) anything else that the Minister considers appropriate in relation to autism spectrum disorder.”.

At 5:16 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:17 p.m., the committee resumed.

Resuming debate on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Patterson that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing line 18 with the following:

“federal funds for autistic persons and their families; and

(

g) anything else that the Minister considers appropriate in relation to autism spectrum disorder.”.

After debate, the Honourable Senator McPhedran moved that the motion in amendment be amended by deleting the words “spectrum disorder”.

After debate and with leave, the subamendment was withdrawn.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Bernard moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing lines 27 to 29 with the following:

“ (

c) relevant stakeholders, including self-advocates, persons with lived experience — including caregivers and support persons — service providers, and representatives from the medical and research communities and from organizations that focus on autism spectrum disorder in Indigenous communities.”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by adding the following after line 29:

“ (

d) anyone else that the Minister considers appropriate.”.

At 5:30 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:31 p.m., the committee resumed.

Resuming debate on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Patterson that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by adding the following after line 29:

“ (

d) anyone else that the Minister considers appropriate.”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Dasko moved that Bill S-203 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing lines 11 to 13 with the following:

“ (

d) national campaigns to enhance public knowledge, understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder while accounting for intersectionality, in order to foster inclusivity;”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

It was agreed that clause 2, as amended, carry.

It was agreed that clause 3 carry.

It was agreed that clause 4 carry.

It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the

short title, carry.

The chair asked whether the

preamble shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Bernard moved that Bill S-203 be amended in the

preamble, on page 1,

(

a) by replacing lines 2 to 4 with the following:

“rodevelopmental disability that impacts language skills, communication skills and social interactions and that features restricted and repetitive be-”;

(

b) by replacing lines 19 and 20 with the following:

“cial supports, and the removal of barriers to employment and housing;”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

The Honourable Senator Lankin, P.C., moved that Bill S-203 be amended in the

preamble, on page 1,

(

a) by replacing line 14 with the following:

“Whereas autistic Canadians, their families and”;

(

b) by adding the following after line 20:

“And

whereas the development of that federal framework would benefit from the involvement of autistic Canadians, their families and their caregivers;”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.

It was agreed that the

preamble, as amended, carry, on division.

The Honourable Senator Bernard moved that Bill S-203 be amended by substituting every reference to “autism spectrum disorder” with a reference to “autism”.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following vote:

YEAS

The Honourable Senator

Bernard— [1]

NAYS

The Honourable Senators

Dasko, Kutcher, Lankin, Moodie, Patterson, Petitclerc, Poirier — [7]

ABSTENTIONS

The Honourable Senators

Bovey, McPhedran, Omidvar — [3]

It was agreed that the law clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical, or other required non-substantive changes as a result of the amendments adopted by the committee, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.

At 5:58 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:59 p.m., pursuant to rule 12 16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.

At 6:05 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Daniel Charbonneau

Clerk of the Committee

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