Promoting Human Rights
CCD's involvement in human rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been long-standing. CCD has played a leading role in consultations with government on Constitutional and human rights reform.
Recent Work
October 13, 2009
An Open Letter to Members of Parliament
July 27, 2009
CCD Factum in the Moore Case
CCD intervened in the Moore case because the case is about ensuring the legal duty to accommodate persons with disabilities is interpreted in a manner that serves its remedial purposes. Specifically, CCD intervened in the appeal because of a concern that the comparator group analysis adopted by the learned Chambers Judge has the potential to undermine the rights of all persons with disabilities to accommodation in a variety of settings. CCD respectfully submitted that the Court erred in determining that to establish discrimination, a student with disability, seeking accommodation in public education, needed to demonstrate differential treatment of students with disabilities in special education. CCD argued that remedial purpose of the duty to accommodate means there is a constant comparison inherent in the duty to accommodate. The comparison is between persons with and without disabilities. Read more.
September 8, 2008
A Disability Rights Analysis of Canada's Record Regarding the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities: A Submission by CCD to the Human Rights Council in Relation to the 2009 Periodic Review of Canada
As an organization with unique expertise regarding the conditions that are necessary for people with disabilities to have full enjoyment of their human rights, CCD shared with the UN Human Rights Council its analysis of Canada's human rights record as it pertains to persons with disabilities. Read more.
More on Promoting Human Rights
November 1, 2007
The Canadian Human Rights Commission Strives to Design a New Business Model: What Does This Mean for Persons with Disabilities?
April 28, 2004
Newfoundland and Labrador Case Factum
April 1, 2004
Integrated Case Factum
January 26, 2004
Twenty Years of Litigating for Disability Equality Rights: Has it Made a Difference?
September 20, 2001
Brockie Case Factum
September 20, 2001
Candian Council of Churches Case Factum
Jim Derksen views inaccessible York Street Steps in Ottawa. CCD intervened in the Brown Case, which challenged an inadequate accommodation developed for the Steps.
January 1, 1984
Bhinder Case Factum
The Latimer Case
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. Learn more.