Senator Petitclerc: Senator Gold, the written response I received last time I asked this question mentioned ongoing consultations that are taking time. However, this is a bill that was already introduced with no prior consultation. Once again, isn’t it time the government listened to Canadians and started by reintroducing this bill? I don’t see any reason not to do both at the same time.

Hon. Chantal Petitclerc: Senator Gold, my question once again concerns the Canada disability benefit bill, which died on the Order Paper and has yet to be reintroduced.

On April 12, 73 members of Parliament from all parties published an open letter asking that the bill be immediately reintroduced and fast-tracked. Several senators recently made a similar request. In addition, a petition signed by 18,000 people was tabled last month in the House of Commons calling on the government to fast-track the design and implementation of this new benefit.

Despite the urgent needs of people with disabilities and the fact that nine in ten Canadians support this direct financial assistance, there is no mention of this measure in December’s fiscal update or in the April budget.

Senator Gold, why has the government failed to reintroduce this bill and take steps to fast-track it?

Hon. Chantal Petitclerc: Honourable senators, I have always been very fond of the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn, who was a long-time passionate and dedicated supporter of the Paralympic movement in Canada.

In 1998, in her role as a senator, she attended the Nagano Paralympic Winter Games. After learning that there may not be enough funds to send a Canadian team to the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, she founded a group called Friends of the Paralympics to make sure that the team would be able to go.

This group became a game changer for elevating the paralympic movement in Canada. Shortly after the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Senator Fairbairn was instrumental in founding and becoming chair of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada, the first official charitable foundation connected to the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

[Translation]

I spent a lot of time with the Honourable Joyce Fairbairn at the Sydney Paralympic Games. I have fond memories of her gentleness, her charisma and her great kindness toward the entire Canadian team.

[English]

Honourable senators, let me share this quote from the president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Marc-André Fabien, who introduced me to his dear friend Senator Fairbairn. He said:

It is with extreme sadness that we have learned of the passing of Senator Joyce Fairbairn. She was a pillar of the Paralympic Movement in Canada for many years, including in critical years of growth, and her leadership, passion, and determination to strengthen Paralympic sport made a world of difference. . . . She will be greatly missed.

As I read this, I have images of myself warming up in a stadium somewhere in the world and spotting the biggest Canadian flag. Who was holding it? It was always her, looking great with a red Team Canada t-shirt, smiling and cheering very loudly in the stands. That is how I will remember Senator Joyce Fairbairn — an amazing woman who made a difference and a role model for the paralympic movement. May you rest in peace, dear Joyce. Meegwetch.