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On the CCD Agenda:

• News from the CCD Annual General Meeting
• It's expensive to support the disabled -- suicide kits are $39.95
• The Disability Community Remembers Earl Flynn
   

CCD Member Group Updates:

Getting and keeping a job--what makes a difference

Call for Submissions

Despite barriers in the labour market, there are Canadians with disabilities who have been successful in obtaining employment and progressing in their chosen careers.  If this describes your work experience, CCD wants to hear from you about what has contributed to your employment success.

News from the CCD Annual General Meeting

CCD Has New Executive

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Winnipeg on 9 June 2012, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities elected a new Executive Committee:

•  Tony Dolan, Chairperson
•  Pat Danforth, 1st Vice Chair
•  Steve Estey, 2nd Vice Chair
•  Marc Workman, Secretary
•  Anne McPhee, Treasurer
•  Carmela Hutchison, Member at Large on Executive Committee

In a commentary published by the Winnipeg Free Press, Rhonda Wiebe provided a disability rights analysis of Arthur Schafer’s recent article “Assisted-suicide slope not so slippery”. Read more.

CCD applauds the Government of Canada’s announcement that it is seeking to appeal the decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court in Lee Carter and Hollis Johnson et al. v. Attorney General of Canada.  On 13 July 2012, the Hon. Robert Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced that, 

The Government is of the view that the Criminal Code provisions that prohibit medical professionals, or anyone else, from counselling or providing assistance in a suicide, are constitutionally valid.

Like other Canadians, people with disabilities have much to honour on Canada Day.  CCD applauds Canada’s progress on access and the inclusion of people with disabilities.  Some “access and inclusion” milestones are noted below. 

27 June 2012

Hon. Robert Nicholson, PC, QC, MP
Attorney General of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA6
mcu@justice. gc.ca

Dear Minister Nicholson:

15 June 2012

For Immediate Release

Today, the Supreme Court of British Columbia handed down its decision in the Carter case, opening the door for assisted suicide in Canada.  Justice Lynn Smith found that the “provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting physician–assisted dying, unjustifiably infringe the equality rights of Gloria Taylor, and the rights to life, liberty and security of the person of Gloria Taylor, Lee Carter and Hollis Johnson.”

Call for Submissions

Despite barriers in the labour market, there are Canadians with disabilities who have been successful in obtaining employment and progressing in their chosen careers.  If this describes your work experience, CCD wants to hear from you about what has contributed to your employment success.