National AccessAbility Week: Income Security Critical to Accessibility
May 29, 2024
Canada’s unions mark National AccessAbility Week by calling on the federal government to support people with disabilities amid Canada’s cost of living crisis. Poverty remains a significant barrier to economic and social inclusion for persons with disabilities. National AccessAbility Week celebrates the valuable contributions of people with disabilities in Canada and highlights the actions needed to create an accessible Canada.…
Canada’s unions are celebrating the passage of Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, after it received royal assent on June 22. “We have stood in solidarity with disability activists and organizations who have lobbied for this benefit for years. Today is a historic moment to celebrate these efforts and reaffirm labour’s support to lift the floor on disability poverty…
Political leaders must work together and fast-track Bill C-22 on Disability Benefits
October 3, 2022
Canada’s unions are urging MPs from all parties to come together in support of Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefits Bill. The bill would raise the floor on federal disability income support with a guaranteed monthly benefit and help lift people in Canada with disabilities—including mental illness—out of poverty. This week marks Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is aimed at…
Bruske: Now let’s get this bill passed quickly – and help end disability poverty OTTAWA – Canada’s unions welcome today’s re-introduction of a bill to implement the Canada Disability Benefit by Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough. “The Canada Disability Benefit will provide critical support for people living with disabilities. Designed properly, this benefit could lift hundreds of…
Canada’s unions call for fast-tracking of Canada Disability Benefit
May 28, 2022
Canada’s unions are marking National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) by calling on the federal government to address systemic inequities and help end disability poverty by immediately tabling the long-promised Canada Disability Benefit. “It is past time that the Canada Disability Benefit be re-introduced in Parliament and fast-tracked into legislation,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “With COVID-19 still…
Sheryl Burns awarded the 2021 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award
December 2, 2021
December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to promote awareness and mobilize support for disability rights issues. On this day, the Canadian Labour Congress recognizes a union member with an award for their disability rights activism. The award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of BCGEU/NUPGE and the…
Federal government should fast-track Canada Disability Benefit implementation
December 2, 2021
Canada’s unions are marking December 3 – the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – by joining workers and advocates across the county in calling on the federal government to fast-track the design and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit. “For years, the disability community has been sounding the alarm on the urgent need for improvements and reforms to Canada’s…
Darryl Flasch – Winner of the 2020 Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award
December 3, 2020
Every year on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Labour Congress will recognize a union member for their disability rights activism. This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of BCGEU/NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group―and who was much loved by all those who worked with…
Workers with disabilities must help shape Canada’s Disability Inclusion Strategy
December 3, 2020
Canada’s unions are marking December 3 – the International Day for Persons with Disabilities –by calling on the federal government to include persons with disabilities in Canada’s economic recovery strategy. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s unions have collaborated with disability rights coalitions like the Include Me Campaign, to highlight the unique challenges and barriers faced by persons…
OTTAWA – Hundreds of workers from communities across Canada are meeting virtually with their MPs this week, part of the country’s first-ever national Action Week, organized by Canada’s unions. Participants will be calling on elected representatives to push for federal investments towards job creation, health care and child care, among other necessary programs. Over 200 meetings are scheduled. “The pandemic…