Statement made on 03 December 2008 by Senator Lorna Milne (retired)
Hon. Lorna Milne:
Honourable senators, I am pleased to remind you that today marks the seventh annual United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The theme this year is "Dignity and justice for all of us," a theme that the United Nations is also using to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Since its inception, the United Nations has recognized that the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundations of freedom, justice and peace in the world. These principles, along with equality and non-discrimination, have guided the work of the United Nations for the past 60 years. They are enshrined in various instruments such as the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as in treaties such as the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Honourable senators, approximately 10 per cent of the world's population lives with disabilities, and there is a strong link between disability and poverty. In developing countries, 80 to 90 per cent of persons with disabilities of working age are underemployed. In industrialized countries, the number is estimated to be between 50 and 70 per cent.
The rights to education and health are also routinely denied. According to UNESCO, 90 per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend schools.
Canadians with disabilities face a number of challenges in order to become contributing members of our society. Unfortunately, there are still occasions where our governments present obstacles.
Where obstacles exist, there are over 5,000 organizations associated with the Canadian Abilities Foundation that are there to help. Organizations such as the War Amps, Arthritis Canada and the ALS Society of Canada provide physically and mentally challenged Canadians with the support they need to engage in healthy and active lives.
In 2006, many of those Canadians were under the impression that the Conservative Party would provide further assistance to people with disabilities when it committed in writing to introducing a national disability act to promote reasonable access to medical care, medical equipment, education, employment, transportation and housing for Canadians with disabilities.
Unfortunately, honourable senators, this did not happen. I am disappointed to report that this particular commitment did not appear in the document distributed during the most recent campaign, entitled The True North Strong and Free: Stephen Harper's Plan for Canadians.
Honourable senators, perhaps on this day, when we observe the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, we should remind this Prime Minister that while Canadians who suffer from disabilities may not be the strongest of Canadians, they count among the most courageous. These Canadians deserve the legislation that the Conservative Party promised in 2006.
The challenges facing Canadians with disabilities need to be acknowledged, not ignored. I encourage all honourable senators to ask this Prime Minister to reconsider and fulfill this important promise to Canadians.