HALIFAX – After being turned away twice from a law amendments hearing, then given another “special” chance to speak, a hearing-impaired man is refusing to go before the committee to speak his mind about the controversial bill 148.
“I was discriminated against as a deaf person, as a Nova Scotian citizen and taxpayer, and as someone who required very reasonable accommodation in order to address the Committee,” reads a statement from Robert Tupper.
In his statement sent out Thursday, Tupper said the treatment he received before the Liberal MLAs was “clearly discriminatory.”
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Tupper contacted the Law Amendments Committee on Tuesday to be added to the list of presenters to the committee, but was told there was no accommodation for him to have a sign language interpreter.
The NDP lobbied to have his rights upheld, and were told an interpreter would be available if Tupper arrived to present to the committee before 4:50 p.m. He arrived shortly after 4:30 p.m., but was told he was too late and was denied his chance.
Wednesday evening, Stephen McNeil offered a “special hearing” for Tupper at 10 a.m. Thursday; however, the committee had already completed its work and reported back to the legislature.
“When I accepted their prior invitation yesterday, they subsequently and very soon after voted to deny me the right to speak through sign interpretation. This invitation for this morning seems just as hollow, if not more so,” Tupper said.
“Blatantly discriminated” against
A release sent out by the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Thursday said they’re appalled at the treatment Robert Tupper received on Wednesday evening before the Liberal MLAs.
“We saw the Liberal MLA appointees to the Law Amendments Committee vote twice to not allow Robert Tupper, a deaf man who is directly affected by Bill 148,” the release reads.
“The incredible disrespect shown to Mr. Tupper by the Liberal MLA’s on that Committee was shocking to everyone in the room, and it is unbelievable that politicians could act in such a discriminatory manner in this day and age.”
Federation of Labour president Danny Cavanaugh said the legislature and whole province should be welcoming to people with disabilities, and that Tupper was “blatantly discriminated” against by the legislature initially refusing him an interpreter.
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“By refusing accommodation initially and later not living up to an agreement to allow him to present once a sign interpreter was obtained sends a signal to all Nova Scotians with disabilities that this government feels that they are second-class citizens who do not share the same rights as others.”
Tupper said Thursday that he feels he deserves an apology from the premier and the Law Amendments Committee. He also said he will be taking legal action, and filing a complaint with the human rights commission.
Committee issues apology
Committee chair Terry Farrell, who is the chairman who denied Tupper a chance to speak, issued an apology to Tupper Thursday morning.
“I failed to consider any barriers faced by you that may have made your compliance with the parameters of this committee possible. For this you have my apology,” he said.
Tupper didn’t appear at the legislature on Thursday.
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