(This press release is written in Montreal, but applies to all of Quebec)
Montreal, September 6, 2018 – Last June 23 marked the sad anniversary of a law which, admittedly, was adopted for some of these articles, but the most engaging ones never saw the light of day. This law which is pompously called “An Act ensuring the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities with a view to their social, academic and professional integration”, hereafter: “The Act ensuring the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities” serves wishful thinking. This unloved law, like those for whom it is intended.
Already in 1978, pressure groups had formed and denounced the pitiful services that people with disabilities received. Here is a famous quote from the Minister of Social Affairs at the time, Mr. Denis Lazure:
“Ideally, a fair and enlightened society should not need a law to allow people with physical or mental disabilities to have access to the same services as the general population. Such a law in an ideal society would be superfluous, but the current situation of people with disabilities imposes on us the obligation to intervene ”.
Thus, on June 23, 1978, the government of René Lévesque adopted “The” law which was to restore the rights of people with disabilities, both by their “entry” to section 101 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (three years after its adoption ) only by the hope that “this” law augured.
“The law ensuring the exercise of the rights of people with disabilities” also led to the establishment of the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec, the time to establish rules, services and everything needed to perfect this law . The OPHQ would be ephemeral, a question of three years at most …
Forty years of successive Liberals and PQ members. Here is the list of prime ministers since 1978
| Years | Prime ministers |
|---|---|
| 1976 – 1985 | René Lévesque (PQ) |
| 1985 | Pierre Marc Johnson (PQ) |
| 1985 – 1994 | Robert Bourassa (liberal) |
| 1994 | Daniel Johnson fils (liberal) |
| 1994 – 1996 | Jacques Parizeau (PQ) |
| 1996 – 2001 | Lucien Bouchard (PQ) |
| 2001 – 2003 | Bernard Landry (PQ) |
| 2003 – 2012 | Jean J. Charest (liberal) |
| 2012 – 2014 | Pauline Marois (PQ) |
| 2014 | Philippe Couillard (liberal) |
Forty years later and we still live in an inaccessible Quebec where we are treated like second-class citizens and where our rights count for vulgar whims.
Do we have to wait another forty years? The answer is no “. The lobby groups of 1978, activist ghosts of another era can only inspire us to go to the front, so this time is the right one.
In the middle of an electoral campaign, the momentum is perfect so that we can present our demands to you, so that a future government can finally restore the letters of nobility to this Law by sanctioning the articles never adopted (63,69,70)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the leaders of Quebec’s political parties, you pretend to want to govern Quebec and this Quebec ALSO has people with disabilities, who have special needs and who do not receive them.
Here are our demands. We demand your commitments.
oUR CLAIMS
R.1. Considering that the maximum hours of home support service is 44 hours per week and that if the needs increase, people with disabilities have no other choice to move to a CHSLD,
WE REQUEST:
The increase in hours of home support, according to the needs of each individual to ensure home support for as long as desired and that care can be offered. Several options are possible.
R.2. Considering that article 692 of the “Law ensuring the exercise of the rights of people with disabilities with a view to their social, educational and professional integration”, has never been applied;
Considering that if article 69 of the “Law ensuring the exercise of the rights of people with disabilities” is implemented and in a transversal manner with the other ministries having a direct link for the most part, the needs to adopt a law – framework on universal accessibility will be less glaring, even less relevant.
WE REQUEST :
That section 69 of the Act be applied immediately and that the accessibility of categories of buildings receiving the public not being subject to the Quebec Building Code, begins in January 2019 by starting by listing the categories of buildings;
R.3. Considering that the Ministry of Labor is responsible for the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec and that this body administers the Building Act and the Quebec Construction Code;
Considering that several types of constructions, construction projects, buildings already constructed do not allow barrier-free access to people moving with a mobility aid;
Considering that the buildings which can be the subject of measures relating to the “Guide to Design Standards without Obstacle” and that these standards are established by virtue of a manual wheelchair,
WE REQUEST :
That has :
- the Quebec Construction Code be reformed so that it truly reflects the reality and needs of people with disabilities;
- the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec eliminates its exemptions from accessibility requirements;
- standards are established respecting the parameters relating to motorized mobility aids.
R.4. Considering the unemployment rate of (13%) among people with disabilities, despite a fairly high education (it is not uncommon to meet people with disabilities who have completed graduate studies and even graduate);
Considering the deep desire of many disabled people to join the job market;
Considering the closing of the CAMO (Workforce Adjustment Center for People with Disabilities);
Considering the work integration contracts (CTI) and rumors of abolishing them;
Considering, therefore, the low rate of employability of disabled people, despite article 633 of the “Law ensuring the exercise of the rights of disabled people”
Considering that this unemployment index is closely linked to discrimination due to the many prejudices suffered by people with disabilities,
WE REQUEST :
- Increased awareness among Quebec employers;
- The reopening of CAMOs;
- Maintaining CITs and extending their duration by contract;
- A study conducted by the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights (CDPDJ) informing employers of the consequences of such discrimination if the skills of the candidate with a disability. are equal to or greater than candidates without limitation.
R.5. Considering the adoption and your commitments on all of the above, given the blatant lack of leadership, obvious laxity in customer support that it has always been responsible for supporting, assisting and helping to claim and obtain l equality of rights;
Considering that too much public money has been and still is spent from year to year, and this, since beyond what was originally planned;
Considering that the OPHQ had to be in place for a short period of time possibly three years, at most;
Considering that the association of people with disabilities is advancing the cause more quickly than the Office, which is just one more government body.
WE REQUEST :
The permanent and permanent dismantling of the Office des Personnes Handicapées du Québec (OPHQ).
“We, activists with disabilities make our demands and declare that if these commitments are not honored, you will contribute to increasing the systemic discrimination that we all suffer every day and therefore you will expose yourself and your ministry, the if necessary to legal proceedings. ”
| Linda Gauthier | Steven Laperrière |
|---|---|
| Executive Director (514) 656-1664 |
Acting President (514) 836-6376 |
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About RAPLIQ: “RAPLIQ is an organization dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of people with disabilities and aiming to eradicate the discrimination often made against them. ”
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10. Everyone has the right to the recognition and exercise, in full equality, of human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, color, sex, identity or expression of gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, age except to the extent provided by law, religion, political belief, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, disability or the use of a means to overcome this handicap.
Discrimination occurs when such a distinction, exclusion or preference has the effect of destroying or compromising that right.
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69. The Minister of Labor must, no later than December 17, 2006, report to the government on the accessibility to handicapped persons of immovables subject to the Public Buildings Safety Act (chapter S-3) or to the Act respecting occupational health and safety (chapter S-2.1) and which are not subject to the Building Code (Order in Council No. 3326 of September 29, 1976).
This report, made in collaboration with the Office and the other ministries and public bodies concerned, must address, among other things, the problem of the inaccessibility of these buildings to people with disabilities, the categories of buildings that could be targeted. by standards or be exempted from them, on the costs of applying these standards by building category and according to a fixed schedule.
This report is tabled within 30 days by this minister in the National Assembly or, if it is not sitting, within 30 days of the resumption of its work.
The Minister must, within one year after the preparation of this report, determine, by regulation, the categories of buildings that must be made accessible to persons with disabilities and the accessibility standards that owners must respect.
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63. The Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity must promote the integration of persons with disabilities into the job market by developing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating a strategy aimed at integrating and retaining employment of these people and by setting performance targets. These objectives must have been developed in collaboration with the employer and union circles.
The Office, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sport, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research are notably associated with this work. , Science and Technology, the Department of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Transport , the Ministère du Travail and the secretariat of the Conseil du trésor.
The Minister may consult one or more organizations dedicated to promoting the interests of persons with disabilities.
This minister must, in consultation with the Office and the other ministers concerned and before December 17, 2007, present to the government a report on the progress of the work.
This report is tabled within 30 days by this minister in the National Assembly or, if it is not sitting, within 30 days of the resumption of its work.
Likewise, this Minister must, no later than December 17, 2009, carry out a review of this strategy, assess and measure the employment situation of people with disabilities, the actions implemented arising from the strategy and the effects of it. and report to the government on these issues. This report should also make recommendations on the integration and retention of people with disabilities.
This report is tabled within 30 days by this minister in the National Assembly or, if it is not sitting, within 30 days of the resumption of its work.
1978, c. 7, a. 63; 1981, c. 23, a. 16; 2004, c. 31, a. 42; 2005, c. 24, a. 37; 2005, c. 28, a. 195, a. 196; 2006, c. 8, a. 31; 2007, c. 3, a. 69; 2009, c. 26, a. 109; 2013, c. 28, a. 202; 2016, c. 25, a. 8.
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