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Council of Canadians with Disabilities Response to COVID-19 Funding Falling Through Cracks
Media Release -
For Immediate Release | June 11, 2020 -
June 10, 2020 marked a disappointing day for Canadians with disabilities. Finally, government put forward financial relief for Canadians with disabilities only to have the bill fail on the floor. Once again, Canadians with disabilities have been further marginalized in receiving necessary COVID-19 financial relief support.
When attempting to separate the bill to ensure some Canadians, at least those with the disability tax credit certificate, would receive immediate support, the opposition opposed and blocked any discussion, using this moment to push for the entire house to be called back before further discussion. The result is that Canadians with disabilities have fallen through the cracks, once again.
Further distressing is that this bill was left to the end of session, and that the COVID-19 support for disabilities was grouped in an unrelated fraudulent and punitive section of the bill intended to address CERB offenders.
Canadians with disabilities have been and are being treated as an afterthought. This is not acceptable. Government stated in their mandate letter that they intended “to ensure a consistent approach to disability inclusion and supports across government that addresses the unfairness and inequities in government programs and services, and challenges the biases built into government”. Canadians with disabilities are waiting for government to demonstrate that they recognize and value all citizens.
The result of this partisan behaviour is that all disabled Canadians are left waiting for the government to respond to our needs during this pandemic. It is imperative that the Government of Canada urgently address the situation and support Canadians that are at extreme risk and require additional support to ensure their basic health and safety needs at this time.
The time has come for government to do the right thing.
About CCD
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.
Mandate
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) unites advocacy organizations of people with disabilities to defend and extend human rights for persons with disabilities through public education, advocacy, intervention in litigation, research, consultation and partnerships. CCD amplifies the expertise of our partners by acting as a convening body and consensus builder.
For More Information Contact:
Jewelles Smith, CCD Chairperson, jewelles.smith@gmail.com
John Rae, 2nd Vice Chair and Chair of CCD Social Policy Committee, Telephone: 416-941-1547, Email: thepenguin@rogers.com