Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The Charter establishes the rights and freedoms Canadians believe are necessary in a free and democratic society.

Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Canadian Human Rights Commission administers the Canadian Human Rights Act and ensures compliance with the Employment Equity Act.

Canadian Human Rights Act

Our Legal Action

CCD advances disability rights through our involvement in equality rights cases at all levels of court. When a case has the potential to change the law to reduce discrimination against people with disabilities, we consider whether we have the resources to become involved. CCD is only able to take on cases that will have the greatest impact on disability rights in Canada.

CCD has participated in many important cases that have helped establish disability rights in Canada. 

CCD is a 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.

The CCD has intervened in landmark disability rights cases before the Supreme Court of Canada including:

Andrews v Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 SCR 143, establishing the discrimination analysis under section 15 of the Charter;

Battlefords and District Co-operative Ltd v Gibbs, [1996] 3 SCR 566, involving discrimination against employees with mental health disabilities under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, S.S. 1979, c. S-24.l;

CCD refers to its Board of Directors as the National Council of Representatives. The National Council of Representatives elects the CCD Executive Committee. The current CCD Executive Committee includes:

The CCD was founded by persons with disabilities to ensure that the voice of persons with disabilities is reflected in the development of law and policy. CCD is dedicated to promoting the rights, full participation of, and equal opportunity for, persons with disabilities in all aspects of society including employment, education, transportation and health care.  CCD also works to remove barriers to accessibility and advocate for inclusive communities.  The CCD engages in law reform, policy development, and strategic systemic test case litigation to further its mandate.

CCD's Annual Report provides a summary of the activities undertaken during the fiscal year, lists the members of the National Council of Representatives, the members of the CCD Committees, CCD Award winners and staff and presents the audited financial statement.

CCD seeks to focus attention on and prevent private and societal actions that make people with disabilities die prematurely. Death-making is rooted in fear, prejudice and negative perceptions about life with a disability.

The Latimer case directly concerned the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Latimer's view was that a parent has the right to kill a child with a disability if that parent decides the child's quality of life no longer warrants its continuation. CCD explained to the court and to the public how that view threatens the lives of people with disabilities and is deeply offensive to fundamental constitutional values.