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UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities — Ratified at last!

Thu 11 Mar 2010

This is a day to celebrate, indeed!

It’s taken seven years of persuading, encouraging, cajoling, motions in Parliament and federal coordination to get us here, but we can now say unequivocally that there is a strong consensus in Canada – both inside and outside Parliament – behind the Convention and its principles and clear responsibilities at all levels of government to follow through with action.

I would like to acknowledge the instrumental role played by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and the Canadian Association for Community Living in moving Canada’s commitment to the Convention forward. They have spearheaded an effort over the years that, of course, received the active support of other advocacy groups such as Independent Living Canada, People First of Canada, Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, Canadian Association of the Deaf, among others.

We have fulfilled the hope of Parliament, expressed in our motion on December 10th last year that we ratify the Convention ahead of the Paralympics.

We can now proudly celebrate the Paralympics opening in Vancouver tomorrow without looking over our shoulder.

Canada is the 78th country to ratify and by so doing is now committed to being governed by the Convention and to address the remaining areas of exclusion and lack of access across the country.

We are now living under an international code where equal citizenship and rights must be respected.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, MP
NDP Critic for Persons with Disabilities