Sure. Thank you and good morning.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first international mandatory law instrument of our century; therefore, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities is very pleased that the departmental representatives last Tuesday made positive reference to the ratification of the convention.
With respect to the issue today, the convention contains article 27, whereby Canada through ratifying the convention has recognized the right of persons with disabilities to work. This includes the right to gain our livelihood through freely chosen or accepted work. Canada and other Canadian jurisdictions have undertaken to safeguard and promote the full realization of this right. The rest of article 27 contains specific measures, which you can take into account when you are considering this issue.
We appeal to you today to support, as a follow-up to the ratification, a federal-provincial implementation plan, which is part of what Canada has undertaken to do in the convention.
Mr. McColeman, you raised the question about silos. A carefully designed implementation process of the UN convention, one whereby we progressively, steadily, incrementally take measures to break down the silos and to enable Canadians with disabilities to participate fully in our society is, we believe, to some extent the answer to the question you raised. We appeal for your support for working on such an implementation plan.
Thank you.