A National Strategy for Disability Supports: Where is Canada? Michael J. Prince University of...
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A National Strategy for A National Strategy for Disability Supports:Disability Supports:
Where is Canada?Where is Canada?
Michael J. PrinceMichael J. Prince
University of VictoriaUniversity of Victoria
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Two QuestionsTwo Questions
• Where is the federal government in developing, with other governments and groups, a national strategy on disability supports?
• What might the federal government do in the near term to put in place a national agenda for action and investments?
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My Aims TodayMy Aims Today
• Make a case for a national approach to disability supports
• Describe intergovernmental transfer options
• Propose revising an existing transfer as the platform for a national strategy
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Disability SupportsDisability Supports
• Aids and devices• Support with daily living activities• Specialized housing features• Work-related supports• Inclusive child care and early learning• School-related supports• Information and advice services• Accessible transportation
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A “Severity-Service Gap”A “Severity-Service Gap”
• The more severe the disability, the more likely people have needs for supports and services that are only partially met or are completely unmet.
• Most prevalent reason is financial barriers.• Income assistance is essential but insufficient by
itself as a policy response.• This group is also at high risk of persistent
poverty with multiple barriers to participation.
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Existing service and supportsExisting service and supports
• Are often: fragmented
• Unavailable in a community or region
• Unaffordable for individuals and families
• Not portable across areas or life transitions
• Disempowering to users in the philosophy and mode of provision
• Not tailored to needs of Aboriginal peoples
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Demand for supports will only growDemand for supports will only grow
• Aging population of Canadian society
• Pressures on smaller sized families
• Public expectations for flexible, available and accountable services
• Further deinstitutionalization
• Labour market needs for skilled people
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Profile of NeedProfile of Need
• About 2 million Canadian adults lack one or more of the disability supports they need.
• Half of children with disabilities who need specialized aids do not have all the aids they require.
• Families supporting a family member with a disability have lower household incomes than other families.
PALS, 2001
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A sign the status quo is brokenA sign the status quo is broken
• A recent series by The Globe and Mail found that 8,500 young and middle-aged persons with disabilities in Canada are in nursing homes for the elderly
• For all too many, this expedient is depressing, degrading and increases isolation
• Suggests a loss of progress in reforms
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Disability as a rhetorical priorityDisability as a rhetorical priority
• Identified as a main area for reform by First Ministers in 1996
• Intergovernmental vision documents (In Unison 1998 and 2000)
• F/P/T working group on disability
• Federal disability agenda, 1999
• Throne Speech statements, 2004
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2005 Federal Budget Commitments 2005 Federal Budget Commitments to Canadians with Disabilitiesto Canadians with Disabilities
• Delivering on pledges?
• Dithering over decisions?
• Declining in importance?
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Response by Disability Organizations: Response by Disability Organizations: polite but profound disappointmentpolite but profound disappointment
• Tax benefits a positive step BUT of very limited use to most people with disabilities.
• Priority should be on expenditure programs instead.
• No long term vision expressed in budget.• Implicit in Budget Speech language is a bio-
medical, personal tragedy notion of disability, and an absence of equality and full citizenship discourse.
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Federal Intergovernmental Federal Intergovernmental Transfers for Disability ProgramsTransfers for Disability Programs
• Income assistance: a history of federal involvement since the 1930s
• Supports and services: a legacy since early 1960s: Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons (1961-97), Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (1998-2003), Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities (since 2003)
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Rationale for Federal Grants in Rationale for Federal Grants in Disability PolicyDisability Policy
• Mandate of Social Development Canada
• Mobility rights of Canadians
• Equality rights of Canadians
• Portability of services
• Assist governments of varying fiscal capacities to enhance and extend current patchwork of essential services
• Full citizenship
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Options for a Federal TransferOptions for a Federal Transfer
1. New fiscal arrangement
2. Earmarked supplement in the Canada Social Transfer or Canada Health Transfer
3. Adapt existing disability-related transfer mechanism - the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements
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The Multilateral Framework for Labour The Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Market Agreements for Persons with
DisabilitiesDisabilities
• Grounded in a history of collaboration
• Familiar to disability community
• Cost-sharing funding (50-50)
• Focus on working-age adults and work
• Some general conditions
• Modernized accountability and reporting
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The Multilateral Framework as a The Multilateral Framework as a Platform for ReformPlatform for Reform
• Add other priority areas to the employment focus, such as schools, local transportation, community, families
• Extend the concept of supports eligible for federal funds
• Expand on desired outcomes
• Involve disability groups and Aboriginal organizations in reform discussions
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A National Strategy A National Strategy (not a National System)(not a National System)
• Negotiate shared national goals, priority areas to fund, and accountability features
• Five year federal commitment to start with significant new federal investments
• Actual mix of funded supports and services determined by each province/territory in consultation with disability groups in their jurisdiction
• Accountability to own residents
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Part of a wider agenda of inclusionPart of a wider agenda of inclusion
• A National Strategy on Supports for Canadians with Disabilities would be part of addressing barriers, improving opportunities and advancing inclusion
• This agenda of inclusion would also involve reforms in income security, tax, health policy, learning, transit, and other fields
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On CommitmentsOn Commitments
• “What kind of Canada do we want? … A Canada where people with disabilities and their families … have the support they need.” Prime Minister Paul Martin, response to the Speech from the Throne, February, 2004
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What Next?What Next?
“Canadians with disabilities …. have been patient, we have been collaborative, we have identified the need, we have identified the priority – disability related supports. What does the government expect our community to do now?” Marie White, Chairperson of Council of Canadians with Disabilities, February 23, 2005.
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So, where is Canada?So, where is Canada?
What is the federal government planning to do to achieve this kind
of Canada?
What would you like it to be doing?
Thank you.