Publications

April 2, 2019

During Official Visit UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Rights Looking at Canada's Record on Disability

I think it is very helpful to have an external expert come and look at things on the ground. I think it will be very instructive for us and she has the ability as an independent UN expert, who is not beholding to anyone here in Canada, to say exactly what she thinks.  So, I think she will shine a light on what she considers to be areas of concern.  I will be very honest about this and say the fact that the government has invited her to do this, I think, is a sign of good faith on the part of the government, as well.  It is a sign of commitment on the part of the government to try and move things forward on the disability agenda.  Read more.

August 20, 2018

OPEN LETTER URGES PRIME MINISTER TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS COMMITMENT TO THE RIGHT TO HOUSING

At a press conference in Ottawa advocates released an open letter to Prime Minister Trudeau signed by over 170 organizations and prominent Canadians urging the Prime Minister to make good on his commitment to the right to housing by enshrining that right in upcoming National Housing Strategy legislation. Read more.

August 2, 2018

Accessibility Legislation: What the Alliance for an Inclusive and Accessible Canada Heard

The Alliance summarized its findings in a report titled “Consulting Canadians about the New Federal Accessibility Law: Final Report", prepared by Djenana Jalovcic, Ph. D.  Read more.

December 21, 2018

Happy Holidays 2018

As 2018 winds down, I want to wish everyone in the disability community and our allies a happy holiday season and to encourage us all to celebrate two important milestones that have been achieved this year:

• Canada’s accession to the Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which enables the CRPD Committee to hear complaints about rights violations from Canadians with disabilities, and
• Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, named the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) as the body responsible for monitoring the Government of Canada’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as called for in paragraph 2 of article 33 of the CRPD.

  Read more.

November 28, 2018

CCD Election Results - 2nd Vice Chair

CCD Council has elected a new officer to the Executive Committee: John Rae as 2nd Vice Chair. Read more.

November 26, 2018

Supporting Recognition of ASL/LSQ by Canada

CCD fully supports Deaf Canadians’ call for ASL/LSQ to be recognized as official Canadian languages, because freedom of expression is a human right. Read more.

May 6, 2019

CCD Part of Coalition Seeking to Intervene in Case Focused on Supports to Live in the Community

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) will be applying to intervene in a case at the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal which raises issues of national importance affecting the fundamental human rights of persons with disabilities. CCD is collaborating in its proposed intervention with the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) and People First of Canada (PFC) (together, “the Coalition”). The Coalition is seeking to intervene on the issue of the interpretation and application of the test for systemic discrimination. The approach adopted by the Board of Inquiry would exacerbate the existing barriers to human rights protections and access to justice for persons with disabilities who are uniquely vulnerable to systemic discrimination. Read more.

April 29, 2019

Ottawa to host meeting of the "Global Action on Disability" - CCD to attend as an observer

This three-day meeting will bring together Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPOs) and donors from around the world to focus on issues related to disability and development.  CCD, which has a long standing interest in this work has been invited to attend as an observer; Steven Estey, CCD Government and Community Relations Officer, will represent CCD. Read more.

April 2, 2019

Jewelles Smith Member of Canadian Delegation

Read more.

February 14, 2017

COLLABORATION: THE KEY TO ACCESS AND INCLUSION

CCD is interested in developing an ongoing collaborative working relationship with Parks Canada that will support increased access and inclusion in all of Parks Canada's activities. Read more.

April 19, 2016

A Modernised Court Challenges Program of Canada: A perspective from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities

The Court Challenges Program of Canada (“CCPC”) is essential to ensure access to justice for persons with disabilities in accordance with article 12 and 13 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If persons with disabilities do not have the means to access the courts, the rights to equality guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and in human rights legislation are hallow and meaningless. Read more.

January 29, 2016

CCD Submission to Special Joint Committee on Physician Assisted Dying

The Supreme Court of Canada in Carter emphasized that there needs to be a balanced system that both enables access by patients to physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia (PAD/VE), and protects persons who are vulnerable and may be induced to commit suicide. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) strongly believes that a minimal but mandatory vulnerability assessments, an independent review process with prior authorization, along with Criminal Code protection of the vulnerable are essential for this purpose.  Read more.