Maxwell Yalden |
John Manley |
Marlene Catterall
I and my colleagues find it is a regrettable situation that surrounds the matter of environmental sensitivity. There is a tendency in many circles to write it off, to treat it as though it did not exist. They shake their heads; they say there is just no dealing with some people. Our attitude, however, is that it is a problem, a genuine problem. It is a problem from which some people suffer, and suffer very painfully. They suffer all the more because of this element of humiliation. No one will take them seriously. We believe that there is a degree of public misunderstanding, and we would like to try to see that redressed.
We will investigate complaints from any person who believes that he has been discriminated against because of suffering from environmental sensitivity. It is not for us to pronounce on the medical issues involved — and there are medical issues. There is some degree of disagreement or lack of unanimity in the medical community as to what exactly is involved in this syndrome. We think it is very clear that it is an illness; it is a problem. It is not illusory. I think we all have a duty to try to help people to understand what is involved and to do something about it.
Maxwell Yalden
Former Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
May 10, 1990, Hansard, House of Commons
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the
Status of Disabled Persons
... moved:
that in the opinion of this House, the government should implement a national strategy for reducing the threats posed by exposure to contaminants in the indoors that would include a national research centre, technology development programs, a set of national standards on indoor air quality and an information campaign designed to raise awareness of and provide advice on indoor air contaminants.
.....
I suggest that the time has come in Canada to address these [indoor air quality] problems in an organized and concentrated fashion. That is why I have suggested that by way of a national strategy the government take on a number of initiatives. I do not think these involve great direct expenditure of public money, but I do think that there will be direct benefit to the economy of Canada if we address these problems. Benefit will be realized through increased productivity in the workplace and increased job and worker satisfaction.
John Manley, M.P. (Ottawa South)
June 5, 1990, Hansard, House of Commons Debates
Private Members' Business — Motions
There has been some tendency on the part of management and government to think that they are dealing with a group of hypochondriacs, and to take these problems [environmental sensitivities] less than seriously. I do not think any responsible employer can believe that a group of employees suddenly turn into hypochondriacs overnight. These are very real problems, they are not unknown to the international scientific community and they deserve the very serious attention of government.
Marlene Catterall, M.P. (Ottawa West)
June 5, 1990, Hansard,
House of Commons Debates
Private Members' Business — Motions
Maxwell Yalden |
John Manley |
Marlene Catterall
