International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3

"Our Government believes that focus and action, rather than rhetoric and posturing, are restoring our influence in global affairs. Guided by our shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, our Government will continue Canada's international leadership through concrete actions that bring results."
Speech from the Throne
October 16, 2007

A statement from the Canadian Labour Congress.

On March 30th, Canada's government signed onto the United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities. Given the rhetoric of the latest throne speech, it should only be a matter of time before Canada joins the ranks of other signatories by ratifying the UN convention in Parliament.

But following through on our latest promise to the world will take more than words in the House of Commons. It requires a real plan to get it done.

Far too many Canadians living with disabilities continue to live in poverty and with high levels of unemployment and underemployment imposed by communities and workplaces that are neither accessible nor inclusive. More than 55 per cent of working-age adults with disabilities are currently unemployed or out of the labour market. For women with disabilities the rate is almost 75 per cent.

The jobs are there. The workers and the skills to get those jobs done are there. Making that work accessible and inclusive is the challenge. Leadership from government is required.

The Canadian government has already agreed to make sure people with disabilities have better access to training, education and accommodation at work. Ensuring people are able to take advantage of these opportunities requires a broader approach.

A labour strategy for people with disabilities means more than accessible and inclusive workplaces, training and work practices. It also means ensuring people with disabilities can get to work, interact with other workers, and live independently.

Whether this means increasing Employment Insurance sick benefits, changing the tax system to help people with disabilities, or working with other levels of government to ensure the construction of accessible and affordable housing or accessible and affordable public transit; above all else the federal government needs a plan.

For a Canada that is truly inclusive and accessible, it is time for the federal government to demonstrate some of the new leadership it likes to talk about, some of the action to which it is now so committed. What can the federal government do?

The Canadian Labour Congress points to the goals identified by End Exclusion 2007:

• Improve disability supports to enable independent living, active citizenship and full participation;
• End poverty for people with disabilities and their families with greater federal involvement in alleviating poverty (which frees up provincial dollars for new investments in disability supports);
• Help people with disabilities find quality work with better labour force inclusion measures;
• Encourage all Canadians to work for accessibility and inclusion; and
• Work with provincial and territorial governments and First Nations towards a national social development role for the federal government to promote accessibility and community inclusion.

If we are truly living in the new era described with such pride and purpose in the latest Throne Speech, then a plan outlining the federal government's role in building a more inclusive and accessible Canada cannot be far off. Right?