English

It is with great sadness and regret that CCD reports the passing of a member of our Transportation Committee, Ron Ross. Ron passed away on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Ron was a volunteer on CCD’s Transportation Committee for many years and had a wealth of expertise about various modes of transportation. Ron was a vigilant monitor of the progress being made on the VIA Renaissance cars. He kept a keen on eye the cars being stored in Thunder Bay and shared his information with us.

For Immediate Release

May 17, 2011

On May Tuesday May 17th the Supreme Court of Canada will be asked to consider whether people with intellectual disabilities should be allowed to testify in court. Specifically, the question before the Court is whether people with intellectual disabilities are required to demonstrate an understanding of the concept of a “promise to tell the truth” in order to be permitted to testify.

Following the Federal election of 2 May 2011, many freshman MPs will be heading to the House of Commons. Many of these new MPs will be unaware of the disability community’s National Action Plan and its recommendations for social policy reform. After an exhausting campaign, some veteran MPs may need a refresher course on the disability community’s expectations of them. CCD encourages everyone to contact their MP to remind them about the National Action Plan.

Introduction

1. Know what the candidate’s position is on disability issues. Do you think this person will champion disability issues when she/he goes to Ottawa?
2. Entertainment is NO substitute for content. Do not allow charm or affability to cloud your decision. Ensure that your questions are answered directly.
3. Take stock of the candidate’s record. If the candidate’s campaign was inaccessible, is it likely he/she will be a disability rights champion in Ottawa?
4. Examine party platforms carefully.

27 April 2011

For Immediate Release

We are moms; we are caregivers; we experience spousal abuse; we are renters and home owners. We are also women with disabilities. Women with disabilities need to see themselves reflected in the election commitments of all Canada’s Federal Parties. DAWN-RAFH Canada and CCD are encouraging candidates running in the Federal Election to address the issues of women with disabilities.

Will your party support the following measures which would have a positive effect on women with disabilities:

• The re-establishment of the Court Challenges Program for equality rights test case litigation?

Both CCD and DAWN/RAFH Canada intervened in cases that were supported by the Court Challenges Program. Women and people with disabilities are named in Section 15 (Equality Rights) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• The expansion of Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits to 52 weeks of coverage?

As in every Federal Election, CCD has been using a disability lens to review the platforms of the Parties fielding candidates across Canada. Throughout this exercise, CCD has been reminding all the parties that people with disabilities need to see themselves reflected in all the promises brought forward during the election. As has been noted on many different occasions, anyone can acquire a disability through the process of living; the incidence of disability increases with aging. We are students. We are moms and dads. We are caregivers. We are workers. We are job seekers. We are veterans.

Immigration and People with Disabilities

Over twenty-five years ago CCD began advocating for a more open Canadian immigration policy for persons with disabilities. In the 1984 federal election campaign CCD raised this issue in our Challenge Ballot. We asked all candidates to support "Canada making a commitment to the United Nations to accept 50 or more disabled refugees per year." CCD also raised amendment of the Immigration Act to bring it in line with the Charter and ensure that disability was a prohibited ground of discrimination.