Co-Chairpersons/Management Report
This coming year will be a year of celebration for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), MLPD and other
disability organizations. In March 2010, the Government of Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) at the United Nations. This means Canada pledges to be governed by the CRPD, the newest
international human rights treaty which boldly articulates a human rights framework for addressing the exclusion and
lack of access people with disabilities have encountered in Canada and in other countries throughout the world. Thank
you to all who made this happen.
During the past year, MLPD has been busy continuing to work on our operational plan and putting our words into action.
Our activities included: Organizing membership events, participating in a seminar on proposal writing facilitated by
Zanna Joyce, working on various community committees and giving presentations about MLPD.
2009-2010 continues to be challenging for MLPD in terms of acquiring funds, but we continue to be positive that we will
receive support for our upcoming projects. Many donations were received through our direct mail program. Thanks to
all of our donors. We also appreciate the support and encouragement from our many funders: the Province of Manitoba,
the Government of Canada, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (Michael J. Rosner Memorial Fund),
and the Manitoba Hydro Selkirk & Interlake Employees’ Charitable Donations Committee.
Thank you to our Council members for all of their dedication and many volunteer hours. Volunteers with and without
visible disabilities are also the heart and soul of the MLPD. Without their help, we would not be successful in our
committee work, undertaking office assistance duties, staffing display booths, etc. A heartfelt thank you to all who
have supported MLPD in various ways over the past year.
A special thank you to Josie, our Office Manager, for her support and assistance throughout the year, often under
great stress and time restraints. And to my Co-Chairperson, Harry, for always making sure I was kept on track!
Terry McIntosh
Co-Chairperson
I recently began my second term as Co-Chairperson. 2009-10 has been a busy and productive year. We were saddened to
learn of the passing of our dear friend and colleague Pauline Mason. Her wisdom and leadership on Provincial Council
will be missed.
The MLPD continues to advance the ‘disability agenda’ in Manitoba as well as federally, through our national
organization the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). On April 21, 2010 Bill C-384, legislation that would
have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, was defeated. As an organization the MLPD has had an active
role in Manitoba’s anti-poverty movement and was one of twelve organizations in August 2008 that wrote to the Manitoba
Ombudsman requesting a review of Manitoba’s Employment Income Assistance (EIA) program. The Ombudsman’s report was
released in May 2010. The MLPD will follow-up on the recommendations made in the report.
Since January 2010 I have been writing a column once a month in the Winnipeg Sun on disability issues. I have also
represented the MLPD at public events promoting the work of our organization. Our goal continues to be a more
inclusive and accessible Manitoba.
Things continue to run smoothly in the office. There are no issues or problems to report. Josie our Office Manager
was on holidays during the months of January and February. I would like to say a word of thanks to everyone who
volunteered in the office during this time. Volunteers are the backbone of the MLPD. I encourage anyone with an
interest in disability issues to join our organization and become actively involved on one of our committees.
Harry Wolbert
Co-Chairperson/Management
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