Social Policy Archives

January 29, 2009

Federal Budget Sends New Signal to Disability Community

In these challenging times, CCD urges you and your colleagues to ensure that those who already face significant disadvantage are not forgotten. Canadians with disabilities struggle when times are good to have their needs met and when times are bad sadly we are often the first to feel the effects of cutbacks or loss of employment. Read more.

October 7, 2009

National Action Plan Video

Jim Derksen presents the National Action Plan. Read more.

September 22, 2009

End Exclusion 2009 Agenda

Roundtable Dialogue “Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship”

October 1, 2009
Ottawa City Hall Council Chambers
110 Laurier Avenue West

Objectives:
• To build solidarity within the disability community and with other anti-poverty groups.
• To highlight our shared priorities regarding Poverty Alleviation and inform key decision makers of our policy proposals.
• To build understanding of how a disability poverty alleviation agenda fits within broader anti-poverty proposals being advanced.
• To build on the success of End Exclusion 2006 and 2007.

  Read more.

July 14, 2008

Your Help Is Needed!

June 1, 2008

Your Help Is Needed!

CCD explains what individuals can do in support of an accessible and inclusive Canada. Read more.

November 1, 2007

From Vision to Action: Building An Inclusive and Accessible Canada: A National Action Plan

The National Action Plan presents a shared vision for an inclusive and accessible Canada. Read more.

January 1, 2007

Building an Inclusive and Accessible Canada: Supporting People with Disabilities

November 4, 2012

Tony Dolan's Speaking Notes for an October 2012 Presentation to Finance Committee

In October 2012, CCD Chairperson Tony Dolan appeared before the House of Commons Finance Committee, when it was consulting Canadians about Canada's next Budget.  Tony shared CCD's views on initiatives that the Government of Canada should undertake to create a more accessible and inclusive Canada. Read more.

March 22, 2011

Dealing with Today´s Disability Poverty

The disability community has shared with the Federal Government a plan, with short and long term steps, for eradicating disability poverty. A refundable Disability Tax Credit is the measure that many of us in the disability community were hoping to see in Budget 2011, but, once again, the Federal Budget has chosen to ignore Canadians with disabilities at the lowest rung of the socioeconomic scale. A refundable disability tax credit would put desperately needed dollars in the wallets of Canadians with disabilities living in poverty.

  Read more.

December 3, 2010

United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The disability recommendations made by the HUMA Committee in their "Federal Poverty Reduction Plan" report would improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities by reducing disability poverty by removing barriers in income assistance, training, and employment. Many of its recommendations are drawn from the disability community's National Action Plan to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada.

We encourage all Members of Parliament to support the HUMA Committee's recommendations. Recognizing they cannot be all implemented immediately, a refundable disability tax credit would be an excellent first step for the Government to take. Including a refundable DTC in the upcoming Federal Budget would be an excellent down payment on income security for people with disabilities facing the severest poverty.

  Read more.

December 2, 2010

Support for Bill S-216

On behalf of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national human rights organization of people with disabilities, I am writing to you in support of Bill S-216, the Protection of Beneficiaries of Long Term Disability Benefits Plans Act, and to follow-up on the presentation made to the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee by Jim Derksen on 18 November 2010, when he spoke in support of Bill S-216. The purpose of this Bill is to protect people with disabilities on long term disability (LTD) benefits, whose plans are self-insured by their employers, should their employers declare bankruptcy. As you will recall, when Nortel declared bankruptcy, there was protection for Nortel creditors but Nortel employees on long term disability, much to their shock and dismay, discovered that they would be losing much of their long term disability benefits. Bill S-216 seeks to create a more just bankruptcy process for those Canadians who have LTD plans self-insured by employers. Read more.

December 2, 2010

Federal Poverty Reduction Plan: Working in Partnership Towards Reducing Poverty in Canada

We are hopeful that the Federal Government will be guided by this report and it would be gratifying to see the next Federal Budget implement the recommendation on the refundable DTC. In the coming weeks, therefore, we will be encouraging the Government of Canada to respond positively to the recommendations contained in the "Federal Poverty Reduction Plan" report.

  Read more.

December 2, 2010

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - We're Sending Our Christmas Wish List to Federal Government

For this year's observance of December 3rd, CCD is drawing attention to the disproportionate level of poverty experienced by Canadians with disabilities in comparison to their nondisabled counterparts. Many Canadians assume that people with disabilities are well provided for by disability pensions. Few, unless they have a family member with a disability, understand that disability and poverty are largely synonymous—disability can lead to poverty and poverty can result in disability. Read more.

September 17, 2014

Employment Equality for Canadians with Disabilities

A powerpoint presentation exploring employment and Canadians with disabilities. Read more.

February 12, 2014

Conservative Plan for 2014 Takes Action on Employment for Persons with Disabilities

CCD commends the Government of Canada for progress to date, and looks forward to working in partnership with the Government of Canada on those barriers, which are very well known in the disability community - poverty, inaccessibility, and lack of disability-related supports. Read more.

February 10, 2014

Getting and Keeping a Job - What makes a difference

This collection of essays has much to teach Canadians seeking to include workers with disabilities in the workplace, because the authors tease out from their personal experiences the factors that promote employment for people with disabilities. Read more.

November 5, 2013

Letter to Minister of Employment and Social Development

 I am writing to share with you  “A New Approach” to addressing the labour market needs of Canadians with disabilities.  Read more.

November 1, 2013

Transforming Systems - a New Approach

Creating greater employment opportunities for persons with disabilities is not only the right thing to do; it makes good economic sense.  A win/win opportunity exists and can be realized. Read more.

April 8, 2013

CCD Brief for Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance

The government of Canada has a clear labour force agenda and one in which persons with disabilities can participate.  We are a population in waiting – waiting for government to implement strategies and approaches which support people with disabilities to exercise their skills and expertise.  Such action by the Government of Canada would demonstrate that they both recognize and value the place of people with disabilities in this country – after all, there is no “THOSE PEOPLE”. We are you Read more.

June 6, 2011

Government Tries to Silence Critic of Student Loan Discrimination

Jasmin Simpson seeks fair play from the Canada Student Loan Program. Read more.

September 16, 2010

Pharmacare central to preventing and eradicating poverty and the Premiers are acting on it

A universal pharmacare plan would help prevent poverty and reduce the burden of drug costs for the 1 in every 4 Canadians without drug coverage, anti-poverty groups advise. The 9 per cent of Canadians who live in poverty are at higher risk of poor health, chronic illness and injury. The new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives confirms that in the current jumbled mix of private and public drug plans access to prescription drugs is largely based on income and where you live or work, rather than individual need. Read more.

December 2, 2009

Letter to the Editor Re: Advantage Disabled?

CCD is hopeful that the attention being focused on the benefits of technical aids in the area of elite sports translates into increased support for public programs providing technical aids to Canadians with disabilities. Read more.

October 19, 2005

Question and Answer Fact Sheet

October 19, 2005

Canadians with Disabilities Call for Action, Not More Study

February 1, 2005

A National Snapshot of Home Support from the Consumer Perspective

January 24, 2018

Not Much Real Change Coming to Canada Post Service

January 24, 2018 - Today, the Government of Canada announced that more neighborhoods will not be converted to community mailbox service, which is a win; but the loss is that existing community mailbox service continues.  The losers are the people in those neighborhoods – seniors and people with disabilities – who will continue to have problems independently retrieving their mail, due to the all too well known barriers in the community-mailbox model: snow, sidewalk conditions, etc.  People with disabilities and seniors in neighborhoods with community mailboxes continue to depend on other people to get their mail, which negatively affects their independence and privacy.  This is not CCD’s vision of an accessible and inclusive Canada.

  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.

December 17, 2016

Standing Committee's Report The Way Forward for Canada Post Contains Some Backward Elements

The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates released its report The Way Forward for Canada Post, which contains 45 recommendations.  Read more.

November 25, 2016

CCD Disappointed by Electoral Reform Bill C-33

While the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is pleased with some aspects of the Government's electoral reform bill, "This Bill fails to respond to most of the important amendments to the Canada Elections Act that CCD proposed," said John Rae, 1st  Vice Chair of CCD. Read more.

March 23, 2016

Trudeau Government Headed in the Right Direction with Budget 2016

Throughout the life of this government, CCD will be advancing measures, such as the refundable DTC, designed to improve the social and economic conditions of people with disabilities, particularly women and girls with disabilities and others facing multiple forms of discrimination. Read more.

March 1, 2016

REPORT OF SPECIAL JOINT COMMITTEE ON PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DYING DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BLIND CANADIANS

When the report, "Medical Assistance in Dying: A Patient-Centred Approach" was released last week, “I was anxious to read it, as CCD has been very active in this issue,” says John Rae, Second Vice Chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. “But, to my surprise, it was released only in an inaccessible PDF version that I could not read, and this discriminates against me and all Canadians who cannot read conventional print,” added Rae. Read more.

June 20, 2018

Accessibility Legislation a Way for Canada to Realize Its International Human Rights Commitments

Today Canada’s disability community welcomes the tabling of the federal accessibility legislation, by Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, the Hon. Kirsty Duncan.  A key election promise in the 2015 election, Canadians with disabilities, nation-wide, have been deeply engaged in discussion about the new law for the past 18 months, and we are pleased that Minister Duncan has taken this important step before the House adjourns for the summer.   By doing this, we now have the summer to study the legislation and ensure that it meets the standards we have recommended to Government. In 2015, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) responded to the promised law by making it known that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Canada ratified in 2010, provides a roadmap for the government to follow for the achievement of robust accessibility legislation that will significantly improve disabled people’s enjoyment of our human rights. “We have been clear from the beginning of the process that we have no appetite for a “light accessibility law,” states Jewelles Smith, CCD Chairperson, who went further to say: “This new law must be robust and comprehensive to achieve what it sets out to do and we look forward to the opportunity to review and work with Parliamentarians as needed to ensure this vital objective.” Read more.

November 6, 2016

Consulting with Canadians on Planned Accessibility Legislation

The Government of Canada is seeking your ideas to inform the development of planned accessibility legislation. Read more.

October 31, 2016

Youth with Disabilities Advise on the Creation of an Accessible and Inclusive Canada

At the National Youth Forum, Natalie Spagnuolo, a member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities' (CCD) Social Policy Committee, will provide recommendations on where the Government of Canada should provide leadership to improve opportunities for participation by people with disabilities as it moves forward with promised accessibility legislation. Read more.

October 30, 2016

Advertisement - Project Manager

The Council of Canadian with Disabilities (CCD) is seeking a Project Manager. CCD is the lead organization on a multi-agency research collaborative, The Alliance, whose purpose is to consult Canadians on the Development of Federal Accessibility Legislation. Read more.

October 20, 2016

6 Things to Keep in Mind When Talking about Federal Accessibility Legislation

The federal Government plans to pass an accessibility act to make Canada more inclusive and, until March 2017, it will be consulting Canadians about the legislation through a survey and in-person consultations.  6 key points to emphasize at consultations are:  1. Use the act to implement the CRPD, 2. NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US, 3. Name the Act: the National Accessibility and Inclusion Act, 4. Focus on federal issues, 5. An Act must have teeth to remedy barriers, so it must deliver more than voluntary standards and awareness raising activities, 6. Strong measures to support implementation.  Read more.

October 13, 2016

What does an Accessible Canada mean to you?

In-person consultation sessions are taking place across Canada to inform the development of planned accessibility legislation. All Canadians are encouraged to take part in the consultation process, either by attending an in-person session or by participating in the online consultation.  Read more.

November 21, 2016

Bill C-26: CCD Presentation to the Finance Committee on Enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan

It is the view of CCD that the implementation of the measures in Bill C-26 has the potential to negatively impact Canadians with disabilities in a manner that could increase the disparity in income levels between Canadians with disabilities and other Canadians. Read more.

July 10, 2015

Options for a Refundable Disability Tax Credit for 'working age' persons

The federal, provincial and territorial governments pay a non-refundable Disability Tax Credit to about 375,000 tax-filers aged between 18 and 64. If the credit were refundable approximately 755,000 more Canadians with disabilities in this age group would benefit from the Disability Tax Credit. This paper estimates the cost and the options for making the Disability Tax Credit refundable. Read more.

December 11, 2013

CACL CCD Submission before the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce

The impediment created by the contractual competence and legal authorization requirements for opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) has been frequently cited by individuals with intellectual disabilities and their family members as a barrier that prevents eligible beneficiaries from opening a plan.The proposed solution involves a Federal Government Form (“the Form”) authorized by Finance Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency enabling the appointment of one or more qualifying persons, as defined in the Income Tax Act, who may act as joint RDSP Account Holders in their capacity as an adult’s decision-making supporters. Read more.

June 3, 2013

Presentation to Finance Committee Re: Disability Tax Credit Regarding Bill C-462

CCD and DAWN support the intent of Bill C-462 and agree that people with disabilities should have their rightful entitlement protected from unfair fees charged by financial promoters.   Read more.

June 6, 2012

CCD Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee of Finance

Budget 2012 has created some new initiatives that CCD believes will help build a more inclusive and accessible Canada as well as initiatives that raise serious questions and possibly new barriers for people with disabilities.  Read more.

March 30, 2012

Viewing Budget 2012 with a Disability Lens

Last week, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada, called for the Federal Government to consider the effect of Old Age Security (OAS) reforms on Canadians with disabilities.  Budget 2012 indicates the Federal Government will have discussions with the provinces and territories about the impact of OAS reforms on Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits. CCD has identified questions that need a response from Canada’s governments.  Read more.

March 25, 2015

Review of Extra Costs Linked to Disability

This study helps identify situations in which the existence of additional costs is more than a hindrance to the emancipation of disabled people; disability costs cause significant negative impacts on the social and professional integration of individuals. In a context of fiscal austerity in which not only the services to the most vulnerable citizens are threatened but also the allowances to the middle classes, recognition of general and specific additional costs by the government would be a strong symbol: a concrete lever for social participation of people with disabilities and, at the same time, an acknowledgement of their right to self-determination. Read more.

January 9, 2015

Québec Poverty Reduction

An overview of the Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship project's research findings concerning Quebec's poverty reduction strategy. Read more.

December 11, 2014

Policy Reform Options for Community Organizations to Consider

Recommendations are presented for the federal government and provincial/territorial governments. As well, a series of recommendations speak to cooperation among governments in Canada. Read more.

December 10, 2014

Understanding the Poverty and Exclusion of Canadians with Disabilities

Cam Crawford explained the socio-demographic characteristics of Canadians with disabilities who live in poverty at CCD's Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship Forum on 2 December 2014 in Ottawa. Read more.

December 9, 2014

Christine Elliott's Vision of a More Inclusive Canada

So, building an inclusive society, yes, at times it may seem daunting.  At times it may seem a little bit too elusive.  But when you think about how much we can accomplish together, the goal of an inclusive society doesn’t seem quite so daunting, doesn't seem quite so elusive.  Our future will be one of full opportunity, of independence.  Our future will be one in which individuals with disabilities and their families are empowered where the threat of chronic poverty can be eliminated.  Our future will be an inclusive society.  There's no doubt about that, because I know that working together we can achieve that. Read more.

November 27, 2014

Media Advisory

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) wants to remind Canadians that having a disability must not mean a lifetime of living in poverty.  Key research findings and policy reform options will be presented in an open forum on Tuesday December 2nd at the Delta Ottawa Hotel.   The Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship forum runs from 9:30 until noon.  Ms. Christine Elliott MPP for Whitby-Oshawa will be our keynote speaker at 9:45AM.  Disability leaders and academic researchers will present their findings from 10:30 until noon. Read more.

April 17, 2018

NATIONAL DISABILITY ORGANIZATION DISAPPOINTED BY IMMIGRATION MINISTER'S RESPONSE ON EXCESSIVE DEMANDS CLAUSE

The Government’s announcement will increase the cost threshold for medical inadmissibility to 3 times the previous level, and amend the definition of social services by removing references to special education, social and vocational rehabilitation services and personal support services. Read more.

April 10, 2018

Disability and Immigration Rights Groups Call on Immigration Minister to "Do the Right Thing"

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), Canada’s national coalition that is working for a more accessible and inclusive Canada, joins with migrant caregivers, HIV and human rights, and other immigration rights advocates to call on Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen to “do the right thing” and immediately introduce legislation to repeal sections of the Immigration Act that deny permanent residency to an entire family if a member of the family has a disability and deemed to pose an “excessive demand” on Canada’s health and social services system. Read more.

November 17, 2017

DISABILITY GROUP TO CALL FOR REPEAL OF DISCRIMINATORY PROVISION IN CANADA'S IMMIGRATION ACT

“Disability is the last major characteristic that remains a barrier to settling and building a life in Canada, and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities believes this provision is outdated and discriminatory and must be removed from the Act,” says John Rae, 1st Vice Chair of the Council. Read more.

March 23, 2012

Immigration and Disability

Canada has removed biases which prevented the immigration of some groups of people; it is now time that Canada removes discrimination on the ground of disability from the decision-making process in the immigration system.   Read more.

April 13, 2011

CCD Dismayed Family with a Disabled Child Ordered Deported

CCD calls upon the Minister of Immigration to allow the Barlagne family to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds.Canadians with disabilities also call upon all political Parties to commit to an overhaul of Canada's immigration policy to remove the discriminatory practices that put the Barlagne family's immigration to Canada in jeopardy. Canada's immigration policy is based upon a negative and outdated understanding of disability that fails to recognize the contribution that people with disabilities can, and do, make.The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a human rights organization of people with disabilities, works for an inclusive and accessible Canada.
  Read more.

January 20, 2011

None is Still Too Many: An Historical Exploration of Canadian Immigration Legislation As It Pertains to People with Disabilities

While trumpeting the values of diversity, Canada's current immigration practices exclude immigrants with disabilities who are deemed likely to place an "excessive demand" on health and social services. The ethics of these practices are challenged by Dr. Roy Hanes, Associate Professor of Social Work at Carleton University and a member of the CCD Social Policy Committee, in a paper titled "None is Still Too Many: An Historical Exploration of Canadian Immigration Legislation As It Pertains to People with Disabilities" that outlines the discriminatory trajectory of Canada's policy on immigrants with disabilities, from 1869 up until the 2001 passage of the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act. The paper first appeared in Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, Volume 37 (Number 1 & 2), 2009. Read more.

October 13, 2015

Disabling Poverty, Enabling Citizenship - Canada's Federal Parties Have Their Say

CCD asked the Federal Parties to share with Canadians where, if elected, they would expand the Federal Government's leadership role with respect to poverty alleviation, the CRPD and access for persons with disabilities, so that we could make this information known to Canadian voters.  "I encourage everyone to think about these responses before they cast their ballot and to vote for the Party that they believe has the best plans for improving access and inclusion for persons with disabilities, urges Tony Dolan, CCD Chairperson.  "Accessibility and inclusion benefit all Canadians." Read more.

September 30, 2015

Voting at an Elections Canada Office

After the election is called, you can vote at any EC office across the country.  

  Read more.

September 29, 2015

We'll Be Voting for An Accessible Canada

When Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it committed to progressively improving accessibility (Article 9).  The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) has challenged the leaders of Canada's federal political parties to implement the CRPD and to share their plans for improving accessibility. Read more.

September 15, 2015

Canadians with Disabilities: Getting Beyond Being a Population in Waiting

Canadians with disabilities are seeking equality in employment.  To this end, CCD has repeatedly recommended to federal parties that they commit to increased investment in the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.  For example, new investments could be focused on youth with disabilities (aged 18-30) transitioning from school to work, including trades, with support for proactive measures such as co-operative placements, summer job programs, supported employment  Read more.

September 10, 2015

Refundable DTC Campaign - #DTCforAll

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and Independent Living Canada (ILC) are joining together to ask political leaders to commit to making the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) refundable. Please sign the petition today! http://dtcforall.org/ Read more.

September 9, 2015

Federal Legislation to Implement UN Disability Rights Convention: Nothing About Us Without Us

CCD would welcome new federal legislation that kick-starts Canada's fulfillment of its CRPD obligations. Read more.