On September 20, 2021, Canada will have a federal election. 22% of people in Canada over the age of 15 have a disability. Despite this, disability issues rarely get much attention during elections. Together, we can change that.
On Tuesday, September 7th a group of 25 disability organizations (the pan-Canadian Disability Coalition) organized the first-ever federal election debate focused entirely on disability issues.
As candidates work hard to win your vote, they are more receptive than ever to hearing what you have to say. Elections are an opportunity to have our voices heard. They offer a chance to tell leaders what matters to us.
Imagine if the more than 6.2 million people with disabilities in Canada asked their local political candidate how they plan to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Now think about the impact if their friends, families, and supporters did the same thing!
To make sure that issues affecting people with disabilities get the attention they deserve, we created a page on our website dedicated to the 2021 federal election. We prepared a short document explaining issues like income security, housing, employment, and human rights. This document includes commitments we want political parties to make. We sent this document to every candidate in the country. Now we’re working with our provincial and territorial member organizations to meet with as many candidates as possible before the election.
We’re committed to making disability issues a priority, and we need your help. Here are some things you can do to make a difference:
- Read Inclusion Canada’s elections document and plain language summary.
- Talk to your family and friends about the issues that are important to you.
- Encourage everyone to vote. Let people know that they have a right to the accommodations and support they need to vote.
- Share Inclusion Canada’s posts on Facebook and Twitter.
- If a candidate comes to your door, talk to them about things that are important for people with disabilities.
- Contact the candidates in your area and ask to meet with them. Our elections documents can help you plan what you want to say.
- Listen to what the political parties have to say about disability. Use this information to make an informed choice.
And maybe the most important of all – vote! We get to have a say about who leads our country and the decisions they make impacting people with disabilities. Let’s make our voices heard.