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Harper government using an online poll to determine whether to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ottawa (31 March 2009) – New Democrat Critic for Persons with Disabilities Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) today condemned the Harper government for using an online poll to determine whether to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and of further delaying ratification.
“How can a government use polling to decide whether to support human rights? It’s outrageous,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “Two years ago today, when Canada signed the UN Convention, there was great hope that we were entering a new era of equality for persons living with disabilities. The commitment was clear; the words were there. But two years later, the Harper government hasn’t ratified the Convention and its actions are ignoring that commitment and destroying that hope.”
Despite Parliament unanimously passing a motion to ratify the Convention last May, the government claims to be holding off, pending provincial and territorial feedback. Wasylycia-Leis revealed, however, that the government is now opening a one-quarter million dollar contract for an on-line poll on whether to ratify the Convention or not.
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