In a powerful Open Letter sent to the Federal Government, An Extraordinary Lineup of Thirty-four Disability Organizations Unite to Press for Key Amendments

Greg Thomson, AODA Alliance, October 31, 2018
A major effort has just been unveiled by Canada’s disability community to get the Federal Government to amend Bill C-81, the Federal Government’s proposed Accessible Canada Act, to transform it into a strong and effective bill. Thirty-four disability organizations in Canada have united to jointly send the Federal Government an open letter. This letter, delivered to the Federal Government by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), identifies nine significant concerns with the bill, where the bill must be strengthened through amendments. The timing of this open letter is pivotal. The political parties must file their proposed amendments to the bill this Friday. The House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities will start to vote on proposed amendments to the bill on November 8, 2018. The Federal Government has said that this bill is designed to reflect the principle: Nothing about us without us! The amendments that will be made to this bill are where the Federal Government can put that pledge into action.