HUMA Committee Report

Supplementary Opinion of the Liberal Party of Canada

We would like to thank all of the witnesses that appeared before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) during the course of the Exploring Employment Possibilities of Persons with Disabilities study. The Liberal Party supported the intent of the study and its recommendations; however, it feels that the final report did not address all of the key concerns or suggestions of the stakeholder groups that appeared before HUMA or submitted briefs for consideration.

The following are some areas that the Liberal Party believes the Report should have included.

Youth with Disabilities

Providing employment opportunities for youth with disabilities is very important in their transition for school to work. The Skills Link program, part of the federal government’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES), is targeted, in part, towards youth with disabilities (approximately 17% of Skills Link clients)[1].

The report does recommend a review of the programing under the YES; however, it fails to address the fact that fewer and fewer youth are being served by this strategy each year, in particular the Skills Link program. For the period 2005-06 to 2011-12, the Skills Link program went from assisting 32,000 youth to 12,000 youth[2]. That means that approximately 17% of these positions (i.e. 3,400) that assisted youth with disabilities were lost.

The Liberal Party recommends that funding for youth with disabilities through the YES should be increased to recover the positions that have been lost in the last seven years.

Accommodation

HUMA heard from witnesses who talked about the need to dispel the misconceptions about the cost of accommodation for employees with disabilities. Although the cost has been shown to be quite minimal (often less than $500) the perception still persists with many employers that it is high.

The Liberal Party agrees with the Report’s recommendation that the federal government continue to raise awareness; however, it also recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada study the effectiveness of financial incentives to employers to overcome fears related to accommodating person with disabilities.

Access and Portability of Disability-Related Supports

Witnesses told HUMA that the lack of access to and mobility of disability-related supports is a major barrier to employment. However, many of these supports fall under the provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

One of the main concerns related to disability supports brought up by witnesses dealt with the fact that supports are mostly attached to income security programs, such as provincial social assistance. The problem for many persons with disabilities is that these supports are often clawed back when the person finds employment.

The loss of these supports often outweigh the income from employment, and therefore acts as a strong disincentive to remain employed for low income persons with disabilities.

The Liberal Party recommends that the federal government open a dialogue with provincial/territorial governments (potentially through the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee) to discuss initiatives that would address barriers to the labour market participation of persons with disabilities, specifically the issue of disability-related supports that are attached to income security programs. And that this dialogue be followed by input from self-representational organizations of persons with disabilities.

Strategic Planning

The Liberal Party supports the recommendation of developing a strategic plan for persons with disabilities; however, it believes this plan should be done in consultation with stakeholders.

Specifically, the Liberal Party recommends the plan should be developed and implemented with the input of persons with disabilities, employers, service providers and provinces and territories.

Federal Role in Employing Persons with Disabilities

The federal government is the largest employer in Canada. In 2008, HUMA tabled a report entitled Employability in Canada: Preparing for the Future. This report recommended that the federal government be a role model for employers across the country and an employer of choice for people with disabilities. The Liberal Party supported that recommendation then and still does now.

The Liberal Party, therefore, recommends that the federal government assess and enhance its role as a champion and role model in the creation and development of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, including by using its purchasing power to acquire products and services produced or provided by persons with disabilities; by extending coverage of the federal contractors program to include more employers; by reviewing and enhancing employment equity measures; and by ensuring that the full spectrum of employment opportunities of the federal government and its agencies include persons with disabilities.

Optional Protocol on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was ratified by Canada on March 11, 2010. In addition to the CRPD, an Optional Protocol provides for a complaint mechanism that can be launched with the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities if an individual living in a country that has ratified the protocol has exhausted all avenues for redress in his or her own country without satisfaction. Canada is not a signatory to the Optional Protocol.

The Liberal Party recommends the federal government sign and ratify the Optional Protocol on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and fully implement both the Convention and the Protocol.