Green Party Includes People with Disabilities in Vision Green but NOT the Green Platform

13 April 2011

On 7 April 2011, the Green Party of Canada released its 2011 Green Platform, “smart economy. strong communities. true democracy.” Following the release of the Liberal Party Platform, which was inclusive of Canadians with disabilities, CCD challenged Canada’s other parties to release platforms which included people with disabilities. Canadians with disabilities are not mentioned specifically in the Green Platform. For disability not to be mentioned in the Platform was disappointing to the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada. Another policy document, “Vision Green,” included people with disabilities.

The Green Party included a social agenda in its 2011 Platform. The Green Party’s social agenda makes commitments that would have a positive impact on people with disabilities. In the Budget Overview section, CCD notes that there are references to: reinvestment in national rail systems, youth employment, housing measures, mass transit promotion, early childhood education. If these were to be rolled out in an accessible and inclusive manner, these would be measures of benefit to Canada’s disability community.

“The Platform discusses implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We agree with the Platform’s sentiments on the Declaration. Many First Nations and indigenous persons are also persons with disabilities. However, we are left wondering why, in the section on equal citizenship, the Platform did not also address implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” states Marie White, Chairperson of CCD’s Social Policy Committee.

Vision Green, a Green policy document, makes numerous commitments to people with disabilities. The Green Party has promised to convert the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to a refundable credit as a first step in creating a national Basic Income program for working-age adults with disabilities. “CCD has been encouraging people with disabilities to ask candidates about their position on a refundable DTC, thus it is good to have an answer on this issue from the Green Party,” states Tony Dolan, CCD Chairperson.
 

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For More Information Contact:

Laurie Beachell, CCD National Coordinator, Tel: 204-947-0303
Tony Dolan, CCD Chairperson, Tel: 902-569-2817
Marie White, CCD Past Chairperson and Chairperson CCD Social Policy Committee, Tel.: 709-739-8233