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Decentralized Democracy

Deputy whip of the New Democratic Party

Laurel Collins

  • Member of Parliament
  • Deputy whip of the New Democratic Party
  • NDP
  • Victoria
  • British Columbia
  • Voting Attendance: 61%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $127,392.53

  • Government Page
Context: House Hansard - 151 - Feb/1/23
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Feb/1/23 5:55:57 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her speech. I share her concerns. Can she elaborate on why it is so worrisome that this bill lacks details on how much the benefit will be, who is eligible and when they will start receiving it?
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Context: House Hansard - 151 - Feb/1/23
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Feb/1/23 4:51:35 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-22 
Madam Speaker, I had a meeting with two of my constituents from Victoria. They are seniors with disabilities, and they came with two big questions when they heard about the disability benefit. One of them has already been asked: Why are they being left out? They are living below the poverty line. Even with the supports offered in old age, they are struggling to make ends meet, and they wanted to know why they were left out of this bill. How would the member respond to these two seniors with disabilities? They also brought up the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the importance not only of having income supports but also really creating a barrier-free Canada. Does the government have plans to put into law some of the incredible provisions in that convention?
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Context: House Hansard - 111 - Oct/17/22
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Oct/17/22 5:32:09 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Mr. Speaker, today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Over a million Canadians right now are living in poverty. Having a disability benefit is so critically important, but the government has failed people with disabilities again and again. It is now asking people with disabilities to wait three years. It has presented a bill that does not actually tell us how much people will get or who will be included. Can the member speak to how vital it is that people with disabilities know how much they will be receiving, who is going to be receiving this benefit and when this benefit will come?
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Context: House Hansard - 111 - Oct/17/22
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Oct/17/22 4:49:25 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill C-22 
Madam Speaker, I am concerned that there is not enough information on how much people with disabilities will get and who will be eligible, but I am also concerned that there is not a clear timeline on when people will get this benefit. The minister has stated publicly that it could be three years. People with disabilities need help now. Does the member think it is acceptable to wait three years?
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Context: House Hansard - 111 - Oct/17/22
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Oct/17/22 4:21:56 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Madam Speaker, I am going to focus on the very beginning of the member's speech when he talked a bit about the need to support people with disabilities in the workplace. I have had disability advocates, including people with lived experience, come to me and talk about how this is not only discrimination in hiring, but accommodation and accessibility in the workplace. If we want people to feel welcome in the workplace, we need to ensure that we get rid of ableist policies and that we do everything we can to accommodate people with disabilities. The House of Commons is an ableist workplace. For people with disabilities who want to run to become members of Parliament, virtual Parliament would be a huge step in ensuring that we have policies that support accommodation and accessibility. I am curious as to whether the member can respond to those comments.
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Context: House Hansard - 98 - Sep/20/22
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Sep/20/22 12:50:16 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her advocacy for persons with disabilities. Canada has an obligation to uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to ensure dignity and equality for all people. The government has been failing, and after seven years of dragging its feet, tabling a bill without the details of who is eligible, when the benefit is going to come forward and how much the benefit will be is extremely disappointing for the people in my riding who are struggling right now. I am curious if the member has more comments about the need for the government to speed up to ensure that all people with disabilities are included and that the level of benefit will actually meet the needs of the people who are struggling.
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Context: House Hansard - 98 - Sep/20/22
Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)
  • Sep/20/22 11:48:27 a.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Madam Speaker, the disability community has been clear: It needs help now. How did we get here? It is consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments that have failed the disability community. After seven years in power, the Liberal government has dragged its feet and now tabled a bill that is empty on the critical pieces and critical details of the bill. Who is eligible? When will people get the benefit? How much will the benefit be? Could the member comment on how, after seven years, a government could table something without details?
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