Disabilities coalition refuses to join government's 'facade' of marking international day
CBC
The Coalition of Persons with Disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador says they will not continue their regular public appearance with the provincial government on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities this year, because of what it calls regressive actions over legislation.
Dec. 3 is the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, observed by the United Nations as a day to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.
"This year I could just not in good conscience sit at the table with the minister responsible … [contributing] to an illusion of inclusion of persons with disabilities," said executive director Nancy Reid.
"I think that if we were to sit there, it would really contribute to some kind of facade that is just not real," Reid told CBC News.
Reid usually spends the day at a government news conference, signing a proclamation to continue support for people with disabilities.
This year, the group is hosting its own event Thursday without government representation.
"The actions that we see of government as of late are really regressive, and certainly not in the broad way contributing to the success of persons with disabilities," she said.
Reid said the "straw that broke the camel's back" was proposed amendments to the province's Buildings Accessibility Act. It received its third reading in the last legislative session and received the support of Paul Pike, the minister responsible for the status of persons with disabilities.
In particular, the amendment would remove a building clause established in 1981, which says that any building built before that time didn't have to comply with accessibility standards.
While the amendment was initially perceived as positive, Reid said, it also clarified that those standards would only need to apply to renovations or additions to those buildings.
"If, for instance, a building was a four-storey building and the renovations … were on the fourth floor of that building, then the building would be expected to be compliant with the act only on the fourth floor," Reid said.
"The access to that [building] might never be accessible. We might still have a building with no elevator or no access."
CBC News asked Pike's office for comment Wednesday. A spokesperson said comment should come Thursday.
Reid is also concerned about plans to change the definition of a person with a disability in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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