January 27, 2015 Mr. Steve Ashton 207–1075 Portage Avenue , , R3G 0R8 Email: [email protected] Ms. 105-11 Evergreen Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 2T9 Email: [email protected] Mr. 129-B rue Marion Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 0T3 Email: [email protected]

Re: Disability and Accessibility Issues Dear Leadership Candidate: We are writing to you on behalf of our two non-partisan, provincial disability organizations/initiatives to ask that you advise us and others of your position as a NDP leadership candidate on three key disability issues of significant interest to hundreds of thousands of Manitobans. We believe that the provincial government has recently begun to make some important progress on a range of disability issues. Yet this progress follows a decade of relative neglect. Furthermore, the recent progress remains, at best, partial and incomplete with most positive impacts dependent on sustained and increased commitment by government in the years to come. As such, we, and many in our communities, were alarmed by the absence of any commitments in the 2014 Throne Speech to provide a better future for 200,000 Manitobans with disabilities. We also note that all three leadership candidates voted on December 2, 2014 to support this speech that sets out the priorities for the coming year.

– 2 – As such, we respectfully ask you to provide clear statements of your commitment to: 1. Fully implementing the landmark Accessibility for Manitobans Act, including the early development of strong compliance measures and funding to support independent community participation. We are very concerned that there have already been delays in the initial implementation of this historic Act, passed with all-party support on December 5, 2013 following more than six years of robust community advocacy. As leader of the NDP, are you committed to the full and timely implementation of this Act? In specific, will implementation under your leadership during 2015-16 include:  The early April 2015 tabling of the Minister’s first annual plan for the implementation as required under the Act for the 2015-16 fiscal year [Clause 5(3)].  The provision of support for public sector bodies which are all required under the Act to prepare and publish accessibility plans for 2016 and then every two years thereafter [Clause 33(2)].  The enactment of regulations relating to the proposed Customer Service Standard.  The development and public release of initial proposals for accessibility standards by the Accessibility Advisory Council in at least two of the following areas: o Employment o Transportation o Information/Communications o The Built Environment  The development and public release of a discussion paper by government on the proposed model and resource plan for strong compliance measures.  The adequate resourcing of the Disabilities Issues Office and the Accessibility Advisory Council to enable them to effectively fulfill their leadership roles on behalf of government in these developments.

– 3 –  The provision of funding to community-based organizations or coalitions to support independent and meaningful participation in these developments by members of Manitoba’s disability communities. 2. Endorsing and immediately acting on Abilities Manitoba’s five-priority pathway to improve the quality and ensure the sustainability of services and supports to Manitobans with intellectual disabilities. Abilities Manitoba devoted the spring of 2014, with government support and participation, to consulting with participants, families and stakeholders across the province on what is needed to begin to more adequately meet the needs of Manitobans with intellectual disabilities. The results from these extensive consultations were set out in five- priority pathway to improve the service quality and ensure system sustainability. This pathway was shared with government in November 2014. As leader of the NDP, are you committed to endorsing and immediately acting on the pathway’s call for measures to:  The development of core principles to guide policies, programs under the government’s Community Living disABILITY Services (CLdS).  The professionalization of the wages of all Direct Support Workers (not only those working in residential services) who provide the services upon which thousands of adults with intellectual disabilities and their families depend for their safety, well-being and quality of life.  The professionalization of the community living services sector by establishing standardized, mandatory training for all Direct Support Workers that includes training in the value of relationships and effective support for decision-making by participants, as well as technical skills.  The development and implementation of new quality assurance measures to promote the delivery of consistently high quality services among CLdS-funded agencies.

– 4 –  The significant improvement of government resources and overall system coordination to: o Ensure that needed services are provided at the most appropriate time. o Ensure that Manitoba Family Services improves its capacity to help Manitobans with intellectual disabilities and their families make informed decisions about their futures. o Enhance Manitoba Family Services’ capacity to provide timely and equitable access to services. o Promote smooth transitions through all life stages through better and more effective planning and coordination. o Develop better strategies to maximize the effectiveness and responsiveness of resources available to community-based agencies, service systems and government departments.  The removal of policy, legislative and community barriers that prevent Manitobans with intellectual disabilities from fully participating in society. 3. Developing and implementing an action plan to make Manitoba a national and global leader in meeting its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRDP was developed to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The CRDP was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2006 and came into force as international law in May 2008. Canada ratified the CRDP in March 2010 thereby accepting national and provincial responsibility to meet the wide-ranging obligations set out in the convention. As the leader of the NDP, are you committed to developing and implementing an action plan to meet these international human rights obligations? We will share your responses with our members, supporters and the public on our respective websites and urge eligible voters to consider these during the leadership election process. We would appreciate receiving your response by February 4, 2015. Please email your response to us at [email protected].

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Sincerely,

Malinda Roberts Janet Forbes President Steering Committee Member Abilities Manitoba Barrier-Free Manitoba RPO Box 26131 RPO Box 65 676 Portage Avenue 971 Corydon Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0M4 Winnipeg, MB R3M 3S3 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.abilitiesmanitoba.org Web: www.barrierfreemb.com