English

by Michael Mendelson

June 2015

Copyright © 2015 by The Caledon Institute of Social Policy
ISBN 1-55382-647-7

Published by:

After some difficult years of funding cutbacks which necessitated downsizing, CCD has overcome some significant obstacles and is now forging a more stable future.  Finally, CCD has good news to report: our organizational capacity is increasing.  As a result, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which occurred on 5-6 June 2015 in Winnipeg, focused on how to build on some key short- and long-term opportunities: capacity building, collaborating with Independent Living Canada (ILC), the electoral process and voter education, and law reform on assisted suicide.   

Saturday June 20th, 2015

Vangelis Nikias,
CRPD Project Manager,
Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)

1. INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), I would like to thank the Center for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) for its invitation to today’s event, and congratulate CILT for this very timely initiative.  It attests to the excellent community service and leadership CILT has been providing over the years.

On the CCD Agenda

• CCD Will Participate in COSP8
• Update on Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet (TVNDY)

Member Groups

Council of Canadians with Disabilities Announces New National Coordinator

The CCD Executive is pleased to announce the hiring of James Hicks as the new CCD National Coordinator.  Mr. Hicks will commence his duties June 1, 2015.  Laurie Beachell the current National Coordinator will retire  June 30, 2015 after 31 years of supporting CCD in building a more inclusive and accessible Canada.

With the month of April, CCD's new fiscal year began.  Due to changes that had been announced to the SDPP funding program, CCD had been preparing for its federal funding to come to an end on 30 March 2015. However, the Hon.

On the CCD Agenda

• Disabling Poverty, Enabling Citizenship: Recommendations for Positive Change
• Commentary on SCC Assisted Suicide Judgment in Carter v. Canada – Key Concerns

Member Groups

This edition of the Update shares some recent activities undertaken by CCD's Council and Committees.

National Council

On 19 March 2015, the CCD National Council met by conference call to discuss CCD's priorities for Budget 2015.

Executive Committee

The application period for the position of National Coordinator came to an end on 31 March 2015.  The Executive Committee will be reviewing the applicants and making a selection.

Carter v. Canada (Assisted Suicide)

On Friday, 6 February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its decision in Carter v Canada (assisted suicide), striking down the Criminal Code's prohibitions against assisting someone to commit suicide.  The Court gave the Government of Canada a year to introduce legislation to regulate assisted death.

Federal Budget

In the month of January, Laurie Beachell met with officials in the Minister of Finance's office to explain how critically important it is for the next Federal Budget to support the sustainability of CCD and the disability rights movement in Canada.

Elections Canada