Recent News

VIDEO: A VIGIL FOR HARVEY SANDERSON
August 9, 2011

On August 3, 2011 -- four days after being viciously assaulted in his Winnipeg apartment, Harvey Sanderson Junior died of his injuries. He was 27.

What made this crime especially shocking was that Harvey had brittle bone disease, a condition that confined him to a wheelchair.

Friends, neighbours and people who had never met him were saddened and horrified by Harvey's murder.

And so, on August 12, they joined together with the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg to express their grief and their solidarity at a vigil for Harvey and all others with disabilities who are victims of violence.

TRANSIT INCONSISTENCIES NETWORK (TIN) at MLPD
August 24, 2011

We have launched a Transit Inconsistencies Network (TIN). We are asking riders to document problems and exceptional service in regards to Transit and Handi-Transit by noting time, date, number of the driver or taxi driver, and nature of the complaint or compliment, and submit it to the MLPD. We have forms for this purpose. You can email or call the office the information. We will be submitting your complaints and compliments to the Transit staff on a regular basis. We hope that action will be taken to address your concerns. In addition, we also encourage users of accessible taxis to make complaints directly to Gary Stillson, Acting Chief Taxicab Inspector at 945-0289. When you make a complaint about quality of service or lack of service, please let MLPD know as well.

Calling All Interested MLPD Members!!
July 21, 2011

Even though the weather is hot and summer is in full swing, this is still a busy and exciting time for the MLPD! The new executive are meeting throughout the summer and setting up initiatives for the provincial election. We are also wanting to meet with federal MP’s to talk about the importance of continuing to fund groups like ours through the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.

So come and join the Election strategy Subcommittee and lets hold our provincial candidates feet to the fire about dealing with issues that impact people with disabilities. Contact Paula Keirstead or April D’Aubin to join this committee.

If you want to meet and talk with federal MP’s to let them know what important work our organizations do for persons with disabilities then contact Terry Macintosh and joint the Federal MP Lobby Subcommittee.

EVERY PERSONS INPUT AND PARTICIPATION IS WELCOME AND NEEDED! COME MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Sincerely,
Paula Keirstead
Co-Chairperson
MLPD

MLPD STANDING COMMITTEE PRESENTATION ON JUNE 13, 2011
Bill 47 The Accessibility Advisory Council Act And Amendments To The Government Purchases Act
July 19, 2011

Feedback

Overall the MLPD is very supportive of all government efforts to bring about an accessible and inclusive society. To this end the MLPD played a role in recommending to the government that the Disability Issues Office be established as opposed to a Premier’s Advisory Council, as MLPD members felt having a mechanism internally to coordinate and support the various initiatives of all the government departments would ensure that all departments recognized their need to address disability and thus an inclusive approach would emanate from all the government activities. The MLPD has noted that the DIO has come a long way in creating a very important role in government. Our concern about creating a Premier’s Advisory Council or any other similar mechanism previously had to do with an advisory body becoming a buffer between the government and Manitobans with disabilities and their organizations.

In the present reality the MLPD recognizes that specific tasks such as, legislation drafting does require a time limited, mandated group of people who can address this task with the expertise and resources required. The MLPD also is pleased to see that persons with disabilities will certainly be appointed to the Council.

During the Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities consultative phase regarding the legislation issue, the MLPD clearly articulated that the following:

• That persons with disabilities and their organizations OF persons with disabilities are directly involved in drafting and vetting any legislation related to their needs and is supplied with the expertise and resources to do so.
• That any initiatives to enhance the full participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in society should also include strengthening of all other rights legislation and mechanisms that exist now, such as the Manitoba Human Rights Commission; and the Manitoba Building Code.

The MLPD anticipates our formal inclusion in the legislation drafting process and would be very interested in discussing how to strengthen the rights mechanisms that presently exist. Continuing to have direct access to ministers of the government to work on mutually beneficial endeavours is paramount in our minds. An example of that collaboration in relation to appointing persons to the Advisory Council would be to invite the MLPD to identify members of the disabled community who have the mandate to represent persons with disabilities and some expertise to bring to the table.

The mandate of the Accessibility Advisory Council indicates a number of important points. The MLPD views the second point as encapsulating our concern regarding strengthening existing mechanisms.

Recommendations

1. That representatives of organizations OF persons with variou7s types disabilities be appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Council and be included in all community consultations.
2. That persons with disabilities are appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Council based on collaboration with the cross disability community and their organizations.
3. That in the Principles Section of Bill 47 a principle is added to acknowledging the unique input of self help organizations and their representatives.
4. That the Accessibility Advisory Council be provided with the legislative drafting expertise and financial resources required to carry out their mandate.
5. That all members of the Accessibility Advisory Council receive enumeration for their participation and expertise, as well as financial resources to provide whatever services may be required for full participation such as, sign language, taxi, etc.
6. That any legislation that is produced and passed does not reduce the impact or mandate of any other rights legislation or mechanism such as the Manitoba Human Rights Commission or the Manitoba Building Code.
7. That any response by the Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities to reports from the Accessibility Advisory Council be made public following its release.
8. That the relationship between the Accessibility Advisory Council and the Disabilities Issues Office be clarified.
9. That government spending be assessed based on the disability lens to ensure that all spending does not inadvertently present barriers to persons with disabilities.
10. That members of the self help cross disability community and other disability organizations continue to have direct access to the Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities.

FORUM - LIVING & DYING IN MANITOBA: WHO DECIDES?
July 15, 2011

This event, held on May 31, 2011, was jointly sponsored by the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) during Manitoba Access Awareness Week.

Videographer/journalist Paul Graham captured presentations by Jim Derksen (disability rights advocate, MLPD/CCD), Dean Richert (attorney and co-chair of the Human Rights Committee, CCD), Valerie Wolbert and Catherine Rodgers (People First Canada) and Rhonda Wiebe (co-chair, Ending of Life Ethics Committee, CCD) as moderator.

TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT OF CANDIDATES RESPOND TO DISABILITY ELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE

Press Release from the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities
October 25, 2010

Twenty five per cent of the 51 candidates for City Council and Mayor responded to the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities Election Questionnaire. Only Judy Wasylycia-Leis responded from the candidates running for Mayor. There has been no response from the current Mayor concerning the issues of people with disabilities in Winnipeg, even though MLPD has left messages with his campaign office.

The MLPD questionnaire that was sent out on October 14 by email included questions on problems with the Handi-Transit Bus system, problems with access to low floor regular transit buses, lack of accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities and the need to ensure that the City of Winnipeg Universal Design policy is used on our roadways and sidewalks.

Two sitting City Councillors replied to the MLPD Questionnaire, Gord Steeves and Harvey Smith. Steeves’ response to a question about problems with Handi-Transit services was “unfortunately, the demand is greater than the service can handle at this time. Our system of ensuring that the service is provided to those who need it most needs constant vigilance.”

The MLPD will be vigilant with the new City Council to ensure that there are resources provided to Handi-Transit for those who need it. Over the past few years, riders have been cut from the Handi-Transit rolls, with Handi-Transit citing too much demand and abuse of the system. As a result, MLPD has heard from many persons with disabilities who are not receiving any bus service at all, because they cannot move safely on inadequately ploughed sidewalks and bus stops to ride the regular bus.

In response to MLPD’s Questionnaire, Councillor Harvey Smith suggested that he would meet with MLPD before the next budget meeting and bring the concerns of MLPD to city committees and Council Meetings.

Overall, the candidates who responded to the Questionnaire called for more accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities in Winnipeg, and for increased training for Handi-Transit driers and regular transit bus drivers in working with people with disabilities. A few candidates committed to ensuring that there is better snow clearing so that people with disabilities and seniors can travel on city sidewalks and streets safely in the winter. MLPD will work with all candidates elected on October 27th to ensure an accessible Winnipeg for all.

REGISTERED DISABILITY SAVINGS PLAN
February 3, 2009

If you are a person with a disability or have a family member with a disability, and you are planning your future finances, it would be a good idea to look at the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).