Governments are awakening
to the value of inclusion and full participation of individuals
with disabilities in society. They are beginning to recognize their
responsibility to enable full citizenship for everyone.
The following links will
provide you with some insight on government thinking about citizenship
and disability.
Please note that we offer
these references in the spirit of dialogue. We do not endorse their
content.
We would be interested
in your observations, comments or critiques of these documents,
or please let us know about other government initiatives promoting
citizenship.
We
welcome your contributions.
COMMUNITY AND
CITIZENSHIP:
A BC Cabinet Minister’s Perspective
In May of this year
British Columbians elected a new BC Liberal government with a
sweeping mandate [77 of 79 seats] for change. Gordon Hogg, a former
mayor and a fan of both Robert Putnam and John McKnight, brought a
deep sense of community and caring to the portfolio of Children and
Family Development. Within four months of being appointed to
Cabinet, Minister Hogg produced a discussion paper on the future of
Community Living Services in his province. In early October, A
Discussion Paper on Community Living Services was released.
Families have described Minister Hogg’s words as the first time they
have read something out of the a government department that honours
and respects the role of the family. The paper presents a far
reaching discussion calling for fundamental change in the way
government relates to families and people with a disability – change
that creates capacity in communities, strengthens families and
builds resilience in individuals.
Click
the icon on the left side of this page to read the discussion paper
(Acrobat Reader required)
The Honourable Gordon Hogg
Minister of Children and Family Development
Province of British Columbia
Parliament Buildings – Room 028
PO Box 9057, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
In Unison
The Ministers of Health
across Canada have developed a unified strategy toward issues affecting
people with disabilities and their families. In Unison was published
in 1998 and the first evaluation of their unified approach was published
in May 2001.
Note: The government
of Quebec was not a participant in the deliberations that led to
the publication of In Unison but supported the initiative. www.socialunion.ca
For additional copies
please contact:
Human Resources Development
Canada
140 Promenade Du Portage
Phase IV Level O
Hull, Quebec K1A 0J9
Fax: (819) 953-7260
For more information: Call Toll Free 1-800-O-CANADA
(1-800-622-6232) for information on programs and services.
FULL CITIZENSHIP:
A Manitoba Strategy on Disability
The White Paper, Full
Citizenship: A Manitoba Strategy on Disability proposes a comprehensive
Provincial strategy on disability. It responds to recommendations
from the disabilities community in the areas of access to government,
employment, disability supports, services to Aboriginal persons with
disabilities and income supports. If further proposes measures to
enhance government accountability for access and inclusion of persons
with disabilities. www.gov.mb.ca/access
Manitoba Family Services
Administration and Finance
219-114 Garry Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V6
Phone: (204) 945-3242
Email: fadmin@fs.gov.mb.ca
Saskatchewan
Disability Action Plan
The 15 member
Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues was established to provide
advice to government on disability issues and guidance in the
development of the Disability Action Plan. Saskatchewan’s
Disability Action Plan reflects their understanding and approach to
addressing issues that impact the lives of persons with disabilities
and their families in Saskatchewan. It outlines elements of a new
direction for government to address disability issues. This
direction is based on a citizenship approach. For the Council,
citizenship refers to the full inclusion of persons with
disabilities in the social, economic and political life of our
province.
The Council
recognizes that the achievement of full citizenship for persons with
disabilities is a process that will be only achieved over the long
term. The Action Plan identifies a series of directions (Path
Forward) and suggested actions (First Steps) that will move toward
the vision of full citizenship. These actions represent measures
that the Council believes are the most critical to removing barriers
to full citizenship and that are attainable in the near future.
The Disability
Action Plan is available in the Saskatchewan government’s Office
of Disability Issues website. Contact: http://www.gov.sk.ca/odi/
