NDP Statement on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

NDP Critic for Disability Inclusion Bonita Zarrillo made the following statement:

"Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities, and also a time to recognize the work that Canada still needs to do to fulfill their National and International commitments to the Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Canada still has a long way to go to meet our obligations to uphold human rights. Unfortunately, Consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have continuously left people with disabilities behind. The results are that Canadians with disabilities face higher rates of poverty, experience increased barriers to employment, and find it even more difficult to access affordable and adequate housing.

It doesn’t have to be this way, and that's why New Democrats forced the government to bring forward a Canada Disability Benefit that is now law. This is good news, but the Liberals need to stop delaying the delivery of this important benefit and get it into the bank accounts of people with disabilities in 2024.

Without adequate income support, persons with disabilities are currently being forced to choose between medication, housing and food. Federal support was needed yesterday, and people cannot wait any longer.

Today, New Democrats are recommitting to our fight for adequate supports that lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty and uphold human rights."