Election Debate on Disability Issues
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Canadians with disabilities are far too often an afterthought of politicians and government. During the last federal election, no question was asked during the leaders debates about persons with disabilities or about creating a more accessible Canada. As a result, the community took it upon themselves to host a national and accessible debate, focused exclusively on people with disabilities.
“Across Canada, people with disabilities continue to face daily barriers to inclusion and their ability to be thriving members of their community. This has been exacerbated even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal election has given all parties the opportunity and the ability to change this,” said Steven Estey, a national disability advocate and Lead Consultant with the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society. “Civic engagement is important for all members of society, and this is no different for those with disabilities. Our community must hold our politicians accountable to create a barrier-free and more accessible society.”
The debate was streamed on Facebook Live. The Coalition invited the leaders from the Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party of Canada, Green Party of Canada, New Democratic Party and Liberal Party of Canada. The debate was offered in English and French, and featured ASL, LSQ, and CART services.
List of Pan-Canadian Disability Coalition members:
Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
Barrier Free Canada
British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
Canadian Association of the Deaf
Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance
Canadian Council Rehabilitation Work
Canadian DeafBlind Association
Canadian Disability Participation Project
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Communication Disabilities Access Canada
Council of Canadians with Disabilities
Community Living Toronto
Deaf Culture Center
Deaf Literacy Initiative
Disabled Women’s Network Canada
Easter Seals Canada
Environmental Health Association of Québec
Eviance
Inclusion Canada
Independent Living Canada
L’Arche Canada
March of Dimes Canada
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
National Network for Mental Health
Plan Institute
Realize
Rick Hansen Foundation
Spinal Cord Injury Canada
Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
