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Disability - The National Benefit Authority

Newsletter 58

Making the New Government Aware of Disability Issues

Author: April D’Aubin

On 23 January 2006, Canadians elected Stephen Harper’s Conservatives to power. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a cross disability organization addressing public policy issues affecting persons with disabilities, is working to keep disability on the federal agenda at a time when many other issues are jostling for position on the new Government’s priority list. CCD uses a disability equality rights lens when analyzing public policy issues.

The Conservative Party included people with disabilities in their election platform. They promised Canadians with disabilities a federal act addressing disability issues. A federal disability act is not CCD’s first priority. However, CCD has begun to spell out to the Conservative government what a disability act could, and could not, accomplish for persons with disabilities living in Canada. A federal disability act could address access issues in federal jurisdiction such as transportation, telecommunications and new technologies. It may be able to strengthen federal enforcement mechanisms such as the Canadian Transportation Agency, the CRTC, or the Canadian Human Rights Commission. A federal disability act could mandate a disability lens that would be used to review all government policy to ensure the issues of persons with disabilities are addressed. A national disability act might also be able to achieve the imposition of access requirements on government purchase of goods and services.

CCD has worked with all levels of government to develop new public policy initiatives to address the poverty, unemployment, lack of disability related supports faced by Canadians with disabilities. The Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers of Social Services prioritized disability issues. To advance work on these issues the F/P/T Ministers of Social Services established working groups to advance a progressive agenda. CCD, along with other community groups, is working in support of the continuation of this work. A national disability act will not be able to address the poverty, lack of supports or unemployment of Canadians with disabilities because these issues are within provincial/territorial jurisdiction. In coming months, CCD will also be working to ensure that Canada’s political leaders understand how the “fiscal imbalance” discussions impact on persons with disabilities. CCD’s priority remains disability-related supports and the need for a longrange plan to address disability issues.

CCD believes that Canada needs another parliamentary committee on disability issues. Canada has had this type of committee since 1981 and it has helped to keep disability on the political agenda. In addition, it has produced valuable research reports about the current issues of persons with disabilities. A committee could help the federal government consider the impact of fiscal imbalance on persons with disabilities, as well as creating greater political awareness of the poverty, unemployment and lack of disabilityrelated supports experienced by persons with disabilities. CCD encourages Canadians interested in disability issues to write to the Prime Minister calling for the establishment of a parliamentary committee on disability issues.

For further information you can contact us:

Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)
926-294 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 0B9
Tel: 204-947-0303
Email: ccd@ccdonline.ca
website: www.ccdonline.ca

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