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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

Research Notes[1]

Lucie Dumais, Alexandra Prohet, and Marie-Noëlle Ducharme, in collaboration with Léonie Archambault and Maude Ménard-Dunn

March 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto and Winnipeg: February 6, 2015

Commentary on SCC Assisted Suicide Judgment in Carter v. Canada –  Key Concerns

1. The judgment creates the potential for the most permissive and least restrictive criteria for assisted suicide in the world, putting persons with disabilities at serious risk.

2. CCD and CACL are disappointed that the views of people with disabilities in Canada, as shared by the leading disability advocacy groups around the world, were disregarded by the Court.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto and Winnipeg: February 6, 2015

Today’s decision of the Supreme Court fundamentally alters end-of-life for all Canadians.  The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) are profoundly disappointed by today’s ruling and extremely concerned about the implications of the ruling. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto and Winnipeg: February 4, 2015