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Questions for Federal Candidates

Our question for federal candidates is: Effective communication is essential when accessing all services. Over half a million Canadians who have speech, language and communication disabilities, report significant barriers because they use ways other than speech to communicate. What will your party do to ensure that they have the communication supports they may require when accessing government services?

For more questions go to http://www.disabilitypolicyalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Questions-to-Ask-Federal-Candidates.pdf

 

Access to Justice

Are you a Speech Language Pathologist working in Canada who wants to support people communicating in the justice system? Deadline to register for our webinars is Sept 23, 2019 at https://courses.cdacanada.com

 

BC Accessibility Legislation

The B.C. Government is committed to developing new laws, standards, and policies to better support people with disabilities to live with dignity and to meaningfully participate in their communities. Accessibility legislation would empower government, persons with disabilities, and the broader community to work together to identify, remove, and prevent barriers.

Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, would like your feedback in preparation for the development of new laws, standards and policies.

The opportunity to provide feedback will be open from September 16 to November 29, 2019 at 4 pm

After the consultation period ends, the B.C. Government will provide a summary of the feedback and input that has been received. Your feedback and input will be used to inform the development of accessibility legislation for B.C.

Royal Assent

The Accessible Canada Act receives Royal Assent today.   Watch this historical event at http://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/XRender/en/

What a great day for all Canadians! Thanks to everyone who provided input to this legislation – we amended the draft bill to make communication access a priority area for people who have disabilities that affect communication. Let’s celebrate today and then get to work on making meaningful regulations that include the accessibility needs of people with communication disabilities.

Annual Report

Read about our activities last year in our annual report at https://www.cdacanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BC-Exec-Directors-Report-June-18-2019_Final.pdf

A Barrier-Free Canada is almost here

Sharing a message we received today from Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

Good morning,

I am writing to let you know that Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada, has been placed on the Notice Paper of the House of Commons for consideration and concurrence of amendments made in the Senate. More importantly, I wanted to personally inform you that our government intends to accept all of the amendments made by the Senate.

I look forward to the upcoming House of Commons debate and vote, which will take us one step closer to accomplishing our shared goal of the realization of an Accessible Canada Act. Reaching this stage could not have been made possible without the strong and continuous support of Canadians and the disability community, and your tireless work to ensure we have a strong bill.

I expect the debate in the House of Commons to take place next week coinciding with National AccessAbility Week. If the motion regarding the Senate amendments is adopted by the House, the proposed bill will proceed to Royal Assent. What a wonderful and timely opportunity to highlight how we are creating an Accessible Canada.

You can read the text of the motion at the following link:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/house/sitting-418/order-notice/page-13?col=2.

Once this bill becomes law, I look forward to working with you to celebrate and implement this historic legislation.

Yours sincerely,

Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

Action required on Bill C81

The following message is from the Federal Accessibility Legislation Alliance (FALA).  CDAC is on the leadership team of FALA.

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Communication in Bill C 81

Senator Dean will speak about the importance of communication access for all as he addresses the Senate at 6 pm ET today.  https://sencanada.ca/en/content/sen/chamber/421/orderpaper/287op_2019-05-13-e