Human Resources committee  Yes, just a very brief word. The emphasis on the private sector initiatives is very, very important and very encouraging, but I think we need to remember that our successes have been based so far on a conducive public policy environment. That means, in your case, the federal gov

Human Resources committee  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 representati

Finance committee  First, let me congratulate you on giving me your Braille card, it's highly appreciated. The question of defining disability is a very complex one. I think what is important to understand is that, with the aging of the population, impairments are increased, but that is linked ver

Finance committee  What are the consequences? Where do I start? Perhaps their food budget is affected negatively. Their health is affected negatively. Shelter is affected negatively. I hate to be sensational, but living two more years in poverty for people who are already poor is basically a prolon

Finance committee  Our approach, as the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, is that we want to raise these issues, to work with the government and parliamentarians to address problems as they arise.

Finance committee  I can say without any reservation that the initiative, the RDSP, has been positive. It helps Canadians with disabilities and their families to plan for the future. Obviously—and this is a long-standing approach by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and others—if we are go

Finance committee  The opportunities fund is a positive program. The new $10 million that the government has allocated is a positive initiative and we applaud that. The panel that the ministers are putting together is a good way of exploring good practices. It's a good way of bringing together peo

Finance committee  Continuing on for two more years at existing social assistance rates—except Alberta's, as I said, so I mean those in other provincial systems—means two years of poverty, which people avoid or get out of by receiving OAS and GIS at the age of 65. Raising the OAS age of eligibility

Finance committee  The proactive enrolment into OAS?

Finance committee  Of course.

Finance committee  Yes, of course. I do want to clarify, though.

Finance committee  Thank you for the opportunity. One of the points we made, and I want to reiterate, is that people with disabilities—especially women with disabilities and aboriginal people with disabilities—because of lower labour market attachment rely on social assistance. I applaud the phil

Finance committee  Certainly that will be part of it. One specific idea I think you could recommend, which would help people with disabilities—I know we have called for it in the past—is to make the federal public service a model employer for people with disabilities. That would have a beneficial i

Finance committee  In other instances, people cannot relocate for employment because their support services are not portable, or accessible transportation systems do not exist. EI reform must include in its assessment an understanding of disability, the barriers to employment for persons with disab

Finance committee  Thank you, and good morning. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities, the representative voice of Canadians with disabilities, is pleased to have the opportunity to present to the finance committee and thanks the committee for this invitation. Budget 2012 has created some ne