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“We challenge all federal party leaders to think about how they would live on the financial aid currently available for people with disabilities. As a society, we failed to support people with disabilities prior to and during the pandemic: let’s not continue the pattern of failure into the future.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (15 Sept. 2021) — The Government of Canada is currently accepting survey responses to support the development of its first Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). The consultation period closes September 30, 2021.
Participation is open to all Canadians. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) encourages members to participate in the consultation by completing the online survey, or by submitting a video using American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). Instructions on how to submit a video response are on the survey website under "How to Participate."
Survey does not ask the right questions
NUPGE supports the outreach component of the online survey on the DIAP. Government must always consult with the communities who will be the recipients of government action (though it’s unclear why the survey is open to Canadians who don’t have a disability or who don’t work with or assist people with disabilities). However, NUPGE is also calling on all federal party leaders to take stronger action quickly to assist people with disabilities.
In an open letter to the federal party leaders, NUPGE President Larry Brown points out that people with disabilities have been stating their needs loudly for decades without the help of a survey. Additionally, the survey leaves no room for feedback from people with disabilities who aren’t able to work, and leaves no room for intersectionality.
People with disabilities need financial support now
$2,000 a month is a low amount of support. Though Canada does not maintain an official poverty line, we can all agree that $24,000 a year is nearly impossible to live on. But if support for people with disabilities doesn’t even equal the CERB precedent, how can we as a country claim to be a world leader in human rights? People with disabilities must be supported with dignity whether they’re able to work or not. A person’s ability to work does not change the fact that everyone should be treated with respect and given the support they need to live with dignity.
“We challenge all federal party leaders to think about how they would live on the financial aid currently available for people with disabilities,” said NUPGE President, Larry Brown. “As a society, we failed to support people with disabilities prior to and during the pandemic: let’s not continue the pattern of failure into the future.”