Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee, both for introducing yourselves and for inviting us to be here today.
We want to begin by saying how happy we are that the Government of Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We thank members of all parties, all sides of the House, for what was a multi-party piece of action. And that's the way we believe disability rights and disability issues should always be addressed--in a non-partisan, united way.
We believe this was an important day for Canada, an important day for Canada's reputation around the world, and certainly an important day for us, persons with disabilities, various disabilities, from sea to sea in this country.
Not only does the convention create more specificity about disability rights than any previous document has, it creates obligations on the part of Canada, partly at the federal level and partly at the provincial and territorial levels. But it also creates, in the minds of our community and your constituents, new expectations. We expect the convention to make some substantive difference in our lives.
As you know, the disabled community is among the most unemployed and most impoverished groups in our community. I know you are currently wrestling with finalizing your report on poverty. We very much look forward to the release of that document in the near future, and we look forward to some substantive content about the ongoing chronic plight of our brothers and sisters, the disabled community.
We are currently meeting in Ottawa. Tonight we celebrate the ratification of the convention, and we hope that you and some of your colleagues will be able to join us this evening at the Delta, once you finish your vote in the House.
Bendina.