CCD Seeking an Accessible and Inclusive Post-COVID-19 World: No New Barriers!

For Immediate Release | September 15, 2021

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national non-partisan human rights organization of people with disabilities, is seeking to learn from Canada’s political parties during the election campaign their plans for ensuring that Canada will re-build after COVID-19 in a manner that promotes the human rights of persons with disabilities.  In addition to its own direct spending, the Federal Government will also be transferring funds for re-building efforts to other levels of government and civil society organizations.  “Regardless of who is delivering a Federally funded post-COVID-19 initiative, “No New Barriers” should be the principle that is driving Canada’s recovery work and the Federal Government has a responsibility to see that this principle is met,” states Heather Walkus, CCD 1st Vice Chair.  “In addition, people with disabilities need to be included at the decision making tables for these initiatives to ensure that unintended barriers are not inadvertently built-in to an undertaking due to unrecognized ableist biases.”

To make this happen funding agreements between the Federal Government and its partners in the rebuilding of Canada could oblige all outcomes to be accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities. CCD is seeking commitments from all parties concerning how they plan to ensure Canada’s future spending is a driving force behind a barrier-free country.

The rationale for the “No New Barriers” principle can be found in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Accessible Canada Act, and court decisions such as Council of Canadians with Disabilities v. VIA Rail Canada Inc. 2007] 1 S.C.R. 650, 2007 SCC 15.

“Canada’s post-pandemic re-building presents a significant opportunity to make major progress in reaching the goals it agreed to meet in 2010 when it ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” states Jewelles Smith, CCD Communications and Government Relations Coordinator. “Making inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities key components of its re-build could go a long way to positioning Canada once again as a world leader in its approach to disability.”
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For More Information Contact:

Jewelles Smith, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator, jewelles@ccdonline.ca

Heather Walkus, 1st Vice Chair, heather@ccdonline.ca

About CCD

CCD is a non-partisan, national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

Mission

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) is a social justice organization of people with all disabilities that champions the voices of people with disabilities, advocating an inclusive and accessible Canada, where people with disabilities have full realization of their human rights, as described in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mandate

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) unites advocacy organizations of people with disabilities to defend and extend human rights for persons with disabilities through public education, advocacy, intervention in litigation, research, consultation and partnerships.  CCD amplifies the expertise of our partners by acting as a convening body and consensus builder.