Social Policy Archives
Social Policy
January 29, 2009
Federal Budget Sends New Signal to Disability Community
In these challenging times, CCD urges you and your colleagues to ensure that those who already face significant disadvantage are not forgotten. Canadians with disabilities struggle when times are good to have their needs met and when times are bad sadly we are often the first to feel the effects of cutbacks or loss of employment. Read more.
National Action Plan on Disability
October 7, 2009
National Action Plan Video
Jim Derksen presents the National Action Plan. Read more.
September 22, 2009
End Exclusion 2009 Agenda
Roundtable Dialogue “Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship”
October 1, 2009
Ottawa City Hall Council Chambers
110 Laurier Avenue West
Objectives:
• To build solidarity within the disability community and with other anti-poverty groups.
• To highlight our shared priorities regarding Poverty Alleviation and inform key decision makers of our policy proposals.
• To build understanding of how a disability poverty alleviation agenda fits within broader anti-poverty proposals being advanced.
• To build on the success of End Exclusion 2006 and 2007.
July 14, 2008
Your Help Is Needed!
June 1, 2008
Your Help Is Needed!
CCD explains what individuals can do in support of an accessible and inclusive Canada. Read more.
November 1, 2007
From Vision to Action: Building An Inclusive and Accessible Canada: A National Action Plan
The National Action Plan presents a shared vision for an inclusive and accessible Canada. Read more.
National Action Plan on Disability Archives
Poverty
March 22, 2011
Dealing with Today´s Disability Poverty
The disability community has shared with the Federal Government a plan, with short and long term steps, for eradicating disability poverty. A refundable Disability Tax Credit is the measure that many of us in the disability community were hoping to see in Budget 2011, but, once again, the Federal Budget has chosen to ignore Canadians with disabilities at the lowest rung of the socioeconomic scale. A refundable disability tax credit would put desperately needed dollars in the wallets of Canadians with disabilities living in poverty.
December 3, 2010
United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The disability recommendations made by the HUMA Committee in their "Federal Poverty Reduction Plan" report would improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities by reducing disability poverty by removing barriers in income assistance, training, and employment. Many of its recommendations are drawn from the disability community's National Action Plan to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada.
We encourage all Members of Parliament to support the HUMA Committee's recommendations. Recognizing they cannot be all implemented immediately, a refundable disability tax credit would be an excellent first step for the Government to take. Including a refundable DTC in the upcoming Federal Budget would be an excellent down payment on income security for people with disabilities facing the severest poverty.
December 2, 2010
Support for Bill S-216
On behalf of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national human rights organization of people with disabilities, I am writing to you in support of Bill S-216, the Protection of Beneficiaries of Long Term Disability Benefits Plans Act, and to follow-up on the presentation made to the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee by Jim Derksen on 18 November 2010, when he spoke in support of Bill S-216. The purpose of this Bill is to protect people with disabilities on long term disability (LTD) benefits, whose plans are self-insured by their employers, should their employers declare bankruptcy. As you will recall, when Nortel declared bankruptcy, there was protection for Nortel creditors but Nortel employees on long term disability, much to their shock and dismay, discovered that they would be losing much of their long term disability benefits. Bill S-216 seeks to create a more just bankruptcy process for those Canadians who have LTD plans self-insured by employers. Read more.
December 2, 2010
Federal Poverty Reduction Plan: Working in Partnership Towards Reducing Poverty in Canada
We are hopeful that the Federal Government will be guided by this report and it would be gratifying to see the next Federal Budget implement the recommendation on the refundable DTC. In the coming weeks, therefore, we will be encouraging the Government of Canada to respond positively to the recommendations contained in the "Federal Poverty Reduction Plan" report.
December 2, 2010
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - We're Sending Our Christmas Wish List to Federal Government
For this year's observance of December 3rd, CCD is drawing attention to the disproportionate level of poverty experienced by Canadians with disabilities in comparison to their nondisabled counterparts. Many Canadians assume that people with disabilities are well provided for by disability pensions. Few, unless they have a family member with a disability, understand that disability and poverty are largely synonymous—disability can lead to poverty and poverty can result in disability. Read more.
November 18, 2010
Calvin Wood's Presentation to End Exclusion 2010
At End Exclusion 2010, Calvin Wood, the President of People First Nova Scotia, discussed what poverty and disability mean to him. Read more.
Employment
March 31, 2009
Make EI Accessible and Inclusive to Canadian Women with Disabilities
Today, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women and called upon the Federal Government to make EI more accessible and inclusive to women with disabilities by expanding eligibility criteria and expanding its coverage. Read more.
Disability Supports
June 6, 2011
Government Tries to Silence Critic of Student Loan Discrimination
Jasmin Simpson seeks fair play from the Canada Student Loan Program. Read more.
September 16, 2010
Pharmacare central to preventing and eradicating poverty and the Premiers are acting on it
A universal pharmacare plan would help prevent poverty and reduce the burden of drug costs for the 1 in every 4 Canadians without drug coverage, anti-poverty groups advise. The 9 per cent of Canadians who live in poverty are at higher risk of poor health, chronic illness and injury. The new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives confirms that in the current jumbled mix of private and public drug plans access to prescription drugs is largely based on income and where you live or work, rather than individual need. Read more.
December 2, 2009
Letter to the Editor Re: Advantage Disabled?
CCD is hopeful that the attention being focused on the benefits of technical aids in the area of elite sports translates into increased support for public programs providing technical aids to Canadians with disabilities. Read more.
October 19, 2005
Question and Answer Fact Sheet
October 19, 2005
Canadians with Disabilities Call for Action, Not More Study
February 1, 2005
A National Snapshot of Home Support from the Consumer Perspective
Access/Inclusion
December 1, 2011
Celebrating Our Accomplishments on UN Day of Persons with Disabilities
On 3 December 2011, Canadians will be celebrating the United Nations’ Day of Persons with Disabilities. The history of advances in disability policy at the federal level is presented in a new book, called Celebrating Our Accomplishments, published last month by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada. Read more.
November 16, 2011
Use Election to Recommit to Access and Inclusion for Manitobans with Disabilities
Like many other disability organizations, the MLPD has endorsed the disability community’s National Action Plan and the more recent Call to Action. These documents call upon Governments in Canada to fulfill the commitments made to Canadians with disabilities when this country ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Read more.
May 4, 2011
Your Help Is Needed!
CCD encourages everyone to contact their MP to remind them about the National Action Plan. The National Action Plan presents our recommendations for ending disability poverty, getting people with disabilities employed and developing an inclusive and accessible Canada. Read more.
January 27, 2011
Disability is Not a Partisan Issue
Whether through personal experience or that of family members, all Canadians are, or will be, affected by disability. Disability is not a partisan issue; disability is everyone’s issue. In the disability community, there is consensus that the priority issues for immediate attention are: poverty alleviation, improved employment opportunities for people with disabilities, investments to improve access and inclusion and support to the voluntary sector. Read more.
January 25, 2011
Pre Budget Consultation Brief to The Standing Committee on Finance: Disability Is Not A Partisan Issue
CCD reminds all Members of Parliament that disability issues are not partisan issues. Our issues are of concern to all Canadians and most Canadians, at some point in their life, will access supports and services built to Create a More Accessible and Inclusive Canada. CCD is well aware that the federal jurisdiction has its limitations and that responsibility for many of our issues rests with the provinces and territories. CCD calls on the Government of Canada to work collaboratively with the provinces and territories on labour market strategies and broad social policy initiatives to address the needs of persons with disabilities. Wherever possible, CCD asks the Government of Canada to use its legislative powers to ensure that persons with disabilities are included fully in Canadian programs and services. Read more.
May 13, 2010
PALS and Data Collection on Persons with Disabilities
The Department is in the process of designing the new strategy for data collection on the status of persons with disabilities in Canada. PALS has been a very important tool for the disability community and frankly it is the only source of reliable data on persons with disabilities available to researchers, governments and the disability community. Only with good data can good programs be developed and implemented and only through ongoing data collection can we ascertain over the long-term whether programs are having positive impacts. HALS and PALS were developed over the years through supported consultation with our community. We urge you to ensure that the new strategy engages and seeks input from the broad community of persons with disabilities as well as from a technical committee of end users of that data. Read more.
Federal Disability Act
October 1, 2006
A Federal Disability Act: Opportunities and Challenges
May 14, 1999
A Canadians with Disabilities Act?
October 7, 1998
Disabilities Act must have teeth
Income
May 27, 2010
Nortel Employees on Long Term Disability Benefits
CCD urges all Members of Parliament to find ways of protecting the income and benefits of the Nortel employees on long term disability benefits and of also addressing the similar problems that many other Canadians may face in the future. The Nortel Employees on LTD describe their “insurance” as “toxic insurance” and we would agree that this maybe an apt description. We support Senator Eggleton’s Bill S-216 and urge all Members of Parliament and the Senate to find ways of ensuring the intent of this bill is realized as soon as possible. Bill S-216 is non-partisan and protects disabled Canadians. Read more.
January 24, 2008
Proposal for A Refundable Disability Tax Credit
CCD explains why it supports a refundable Disability Tax Credit: it would vastly improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadian residents with disabilities. Read more.
Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship
January 17, 2012
Advancing the Participation of People with Disabilities in the Labour Market: International Practices and Lessons
This presentation by Michael J. Prince examines what policies act as barriers to labour market participation for people with disabilities and what policies act as facilitators. Read more.
December 21, 2011
IN UNISON: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues
This report sets the stage for governments, persons with disabilities, disability advocates, communities, employers, labour and the non-profit sector to jointly focus on disability issues. It builds on the framework document entitled "In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues," which was released in 1998 by federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for social services. Read more.
December 18, 2011
Highlights of End Exclusion 2011
Check out the information shared at End Excluison 2011. Read more.
December 18, 2011
Key Messages from End Exclusion 2011 Round Tables
Participants at End Exclusion 2011 shared their views with the Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship research team. Read more.
December 18, 2011
Notes from Presentation by Lived Experience of Poverty Panelist Laurence Parent
I was asked to speak about personal experiences, what it is like to be living in Quebec in 2011 with physical disabilities. Read more.
December 18, 2011
Notes from Presentation by Lived Experience of Poverty Panelist Laurie Larson
I am a caregiver with no pension of my own. How will I support myself? Will I be faced with living in poverty? Is that the price I will pay for loving and raising my children? Last night, we celebrated 30 years of achievements. With a little effort and commitment, and some political will, we could add ending the poverty of families raising children with disabilities to our list of achievements. Many families across this country are counting on us to do that. Read more.
Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship Archives
Immigration
April 13, 2011
CCD Dismayed Family with a Disabled Child Ordered Deported
CCD calls upon the Minister of Immigration to allow the Barlagne family to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds.Canadians with disabilities also call upon all political Parties to commit to an overhaul of Canada's immigration policy to remove the discriminatory practices that put the Barlagne family's immigration to Canada in jeopardy. Canada's immigration policy is based upon a negative and outdated understanding of disability that fails to recognize the contribution that people with disabilities can, and do, make.The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a human rights organization of people with disabilities, works for an inclusive and accessible Canada.
Read more.
January 20, 2011
None is Still Too Many: An Historical Exploration of Canadian Immigration Legislation As It Pertains to People with Disabilities
While trumpeting the values of diversity, Canada's current immigration practices exclude immigrants with disabilities who are deemed likely to place an "excessive demand" on health and social services. The ethics of these practices are challenged by Dr. Roy Hanes, Associate Professor of Social Work at Carleton University and a member of the CCD Social Policy Committee, in a paper titled "None is Still Too Many: An Historical Exploration of Canadian Immigration Legislation As It Pertains to People with Disabilities" that outlines the discriminatory trajectory of Canada's policy on immigrants with disabilities, from 1869 up until the 2001 passage of the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act. The paper first appeared in Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, Volume 37 (Number 1 & 2), 2009. Read more.
January 14, 2011
Immigration Video
Marie White and Laurie Beachell explain how Canada’s immigration practices discriminate against people with disabilities and why this is an issue being addressed by CCD. Read more.
May 27, 2010
Immigration and Disability
CCD urges you to undertake a review of the excessive demand clause of the Immigration Act. Canadians with disabilities are insulted by Canada’s immigration law. Our current law belittles our contributions and reinforces the old stereotypes that people with disabilities will be a drain upon our society, not contributors to it. Read more.
February 24, 2010
Disability Group Challenges Canada on 'Excessive Burden': $5,259
In the short term, CCD is calling upon the Minister of Immigration to allow the Barlagne family to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds.In the long term, CCD is calling upon the government of Canada to overhaul Canada's immigration policy to remove the discriminatory practices that put the Barlagne family's immigration to Canada in jeopardy. Canada's immigration policy is based upon a negative and outdated understanding of disability that fails to recognize the contribution that people with disabilities can, and do, make.
Read more.
Federal Elections
April 27, 2011
We Are Electors. We Are Women with Disabilities.
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. Read more.
April 26, 2011
What to Ask Federal Election Candidates about Women with Disability?
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 platforms of all Canada’s Federal Parties. Investment in women makes good economic sense because women are the major purchasers for their homes and families. The needs of women with disabilities do not change in response to economic trends. Because we usually live below the poverty line (or near it) 100% of our incomes are turned to local economies.
Acknowledgement: “What to Ask Federal Election Candidates about Women with Disability?” was developed collaboratively by DAWN/RAFH Canada and CCD.
DAWN-RAFH Canada is a national bilingual cross-disability organization for women with disabilities. Our mission is to end the poverty, isolation, discrimination and violence experienced by women with disabilities. 25 years in service to women with disabilities! 25 ans en services des femmes handicapees!
Read more.
April 14, 2011
Conservative Government Has Future-oriented Approach to Disability Issues
“CCD reminds the Conservative Party that Canadians with disabilities need a government prepared to address both present and future needs. We need measures focusing on disability-related supports, labour market participation, implementation of the CRPD, poverty eradication and full inclusion and accessibility,” stated Tony Dolan, CCD Chairperson. Read more.
April 13, 2011
Conservative Party Platform-- Here for Canada: Stephen Harper's Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Economic Growth
April 13, 2011
NDP Take Page from Disability Community's Action Plan
In 2007, the disability community launched its own National Action Plan, which over 100 groups endorsed and the Plan called for action on disability supports, poverty alleviation, labour market participation, and access and inclusion. This February, the disability community presented Canada’s Federal Parties with a plan for implementing the CRPD. The NDP have responded by including these issues in their action plan for Canada—the 2011 NDP Platform. Read more.
End Exclusion supporters rally in support of an accessible and inclusive Canada.