When Will Harper Government Pay More Than Lip Service to Disability Issues?

Tokenism will not advance accessibility for people with disabilities in Canada

By Stephen Pate – Last week I got one press release from the Harper Government on disability issues – Harper Government improves accessibility for Canadians with disabilities in Toronto

That’s nice: the Harper Government funded a $50,000 wheelchair ramp for Beth Tzedec, a Jewish faith community in Toronto.

Featured image – Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

But what is the government doing to end discrimination against Canada’s 5 million people living with disabilities? Is that all there is?

Compare that effort with the 10 lawsuits the US Government under President Obama settled or prosecuted in a week, ending discrimination for Americans through the EEOC.  Cash settlements exceeded $500,000 along with major cease and desist agreements.

One ramp does not mean anything. It’s a token. Canada has no laws that really protect people with disabilities like the Americans with Disabilities Act nor an agency like the EEOC to prosecute people who break the law.

In Canada, you have to be your own police under the various provincial Human Rights laws or the federal Human Rights Act. Hire your own lawyer and prosecute the case yourself. It generally takes 8-10 years to win in Canada if you have the money for a lawyer and the stamina.

The US government takes the cases themselves and settles most cases in less than 2 years.

Think of the odds – you versus Wal-Mart or the US government versus Wal-Mart.

So thanks Prime Minister Harper but you’re going to have to do better to impress us.

February 20, 2015– Toronto, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, and Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, today announced $50,000 in funding to improve accessibility for those attending Beth Tzedec, a Jewish faith community that offers social, cultural, educational and spiritual programs in Toronto.

Beth Tzedec will renovate its sanctuary to make it more accessible for persons with disabilities. A new stage with a ramp will allow members with physical limitations to fully participate in activities, and a new sound system equipped with assistive listening devices will help people who are hearing-impaired.

The funding is coming from the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF), which supports the inclusion and participation of Canadians with all abilities in every aspect of society.