Disabled People Hurt by Government Actions

Labour calls for reinstatement of Court Challenges Program

Twenty-five years ago, the United Nations recognized the International Year of Disabled Persons. In 1992, the UN designated December 3 as the International Day of Disabled Persons. Since then, that day has become a day when people around the world come together to celebrate advances, victories and to strengthen determination to fight for the economic, cultural, political and social rights of people with disabilities.

"This year saw another step forward," says Barbara Byers, executive vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress, "when the United Nations adopted a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the first new convention of the 21st century. The world is moving forward on the greater inclusion of people living with disabilities – but Canada went the other way this year."

Byers' comment about Canada going "the other way" was prompted by the government's action earlier this year when they cancelled the Court Challenges Program. She thinks now would be a good time to correct that mistake.

"Canada's federal government should mark December 3, the International Day of Disabled Persons, by reversing one of its biggest mistakes and reinstating the Court Challenges Program. One of the most significant cutbacks to equality rights for Canadians with disabilities came this year when the government cancelled the Court Challenges Program.

"People with disabilities are largely poor and marginalized," Byers says. "Work remains largely inaccessible, although progress has been made with support from unions and with changes to the law. Like employers, governments only change the rules if challenged - and that takes resources and money."

Byers says the Court Challenges Program played a critical role in assisting Canadians with disabilities to promote their right to equality and to clarify for governments their obligation to protect human rights.

"Asking the most disadvantaged people to fend for themselves or to beg for charity to defend their rights before the courts, takes Canada in the opposite direction from the global community," said Byers.