NDP CALLS ON HARPER TO DELIVER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

OTTAWA – On the one year anniversary of Canada signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, NDP leader Jack Layton and NDP Critic for Persons with Disabilities Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) called on the government to deliver on its commitments.

"The average Canadian doesn't have to think twice about whether or not we should be working to improve the lives of persons with disabilities," said Layton. "So why is the government having second thoughts? Ordinary Canadians fully support the principle of fair access, and expect the government to follow through on its commitments."

The Convention aims not only to end discrimination against people with disabilities but to promote and put in place legislative and administrative measures that will result in their full participation and inclusion in all aspects of society. Canada signed the Convention on March 30, 2007, but has yet to sign the optional protocol, and has not ratified the Convention.

To date, 126 nations have signed the Convention. Twenty countries must ratify the Convention to officially bring it into force; seventeen have done so.

“Where has this government been for the past year?” asked Wasylycia-Leis. “It took much prodding last year to get the Convention signed. It was supposed to be a new beginning for Canadians with disabilities, not a dead end. But we’ve seen no plan to make Canada more inclusive. Equality doesn’t just happen with the wave of a pen – this government’s had a full year to show concrete leadership and has failed miserably.”

“Ordinary Canadians are proud we signed the Convention and expect Canada to play a pivotal role as a world leader on this important equality issue,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “Instead, the Harper Conservatives’ failure to ratify the Convention is actually holding the world back. It’s shameful.”