November 21, 2006

Members’ Statements
CLOSURE MOTION ON BILL 107 (HUMAN RIGHTS CODE AMENDMENT ACT)

Mr. Ernie Hardeman (Oxford): The McGuinty Liberals have decided that they know better than the people and the groups who deal with human rights concerns on an ongoing basis. Today, the McGuinty Liberals plan to shut their ears and muzzle anything the following groups may have to say about human rights:

-- Orville Endicott and Dawn Roper of Community Living Ontario;
-- Nancy Schular and Seema Shaw of the Ontario Disability Support Plan Action Coalition;
-- Malcolm Buchanan of Civil Rights in Public Education Inc.;
-- Steven Adler of the Canadian Jewish Congress;
-- Rosalyn Forrester of Canadian Transsexuals Fight for Rights.

These are among the 200 people who thought they would have a chance to share their experiences, insight, concerns, criticisms and suggestions, some of whom have already been scheduled to speak.

In fact, the Liberal government spent $160,000 to advertise for people to appear at hearings. They spent staff time scheduling these meetings. Now the McGuinty Liberals, if they proceed with cutting off public hearings on Bill 107 prematurely, are telling these people and many more to go away. The McGuinty government doesn't think they have anything worth saying.

Every member of the McGuinty caucus should be ashamed of themselves. Many people whose voices are being ignored are in the gallery today. If you have any integrity left, you will publicly apologize to them and withdraw your closure motion.