Fort Garry
Green Party of Manitoba (GPM) - Candidate: Aaron Kowal
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline
Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) - Candidate: Shandi Strong
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have known people with various disabilities all of my life. As a child a family friend’s child lived with cerebral palsy, a cousin with severe learning disabilities, as a teen my friend was born missing his forearm, and throughout my adult life I have friends with intellectual and physical disabilities and one whose son is autistic. As I have learned about the struggles that each has faced I have been able to see each of them as people, both brave and resilient. As I age and seen my friends age, I have become acutely aware that we are all just an accident or illness away from being disabled ourselves. Much of the work that I do with Jon Gerrard, MLA for River Heights, is advocacy for persons with disability, who sadly all too often have difficulty accessing services that should help them have supports for a dignified life.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
It’s hard to pick just one of the priority issues, because they all need to be supported. But I think because of my experiences that basic needs need to be at the forefront. Without safe affordable housing, sufficient income from programs or work, and access to healthy food and medical care, people living with disabilities are forced to live in poverty, and that is just not right. EIA is a very combative system, I know because I was on it, but for people whose needs need more than the pittance they receive on EIA, even with the new top up, it’s extremely challenging. EIA’s hands are tied because of imposed limits that haven’t really changed in decades, yet people with disabilities seem to be being punished for who they are. This is not acceptable in terms of their human dignity.
Q: Disability discrimination has made up the largest share by far of all the formal complaints lodged with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission over the last 20 years. What do you think accounts for this and what do you think needs to be done to address it?
It truly is a shame that persons with disabilities seem destined to fight for their rights. I know there are good people in the world that do their best to support and accommodate properly. At work we have done what we can to help and guide people, and it oftentimes seems that it’s people with intellectual disabilities that seek help most often. I think that because these disabilities are invisible to most, that people who are the reason for these complaints lack the awareness, compassion and patience to resolve things before it gets to the point of a complaint being filed. I also know that the MHRC is run by good people, but is severely understaffed to adequately mediate disputes and complaints. I think that education is key. I think that when people who identify to another as a person with a disability where there is such difficulty, that the onus should be on the other person to be first and foremost patient, and secondly to be educated on how to communicate and relate to the person with the disability. Treat them as individuals, with respect, and that way solving the dispute before it goes to the MHRC might be avoided. All of us need to treat each other with respect.
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Mark Wasyliw
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have two nephews who are on the Autism Spectrum. I have witnessed the barriers to education and employment they have faced growing up. I have witnessed a public education system that did not address their needs nor have the resources in place to allow them to succeed let alone flourish.
As they became adults it was clear that there was very little in the way of employment programs that would give them the opportunity to show what they can do. They would apply to numerous jobs for which they were qualified for but would have difficulty getting past the interview stage. They needed the opportunity to show what they could do, when that occurred they became valuable and trusted members of that company. it should never have been that hard for them.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
I believe that addressing the basic needs of people living with disability is critical. Many of my constituents are struggling just to survive and cannot move forward with their lives as a result. If people do not have their basic needs met they have no quality of life. Everything starts from there. All Manitobans deserve to live in dignity and security.
Q: Disability discrimination has made up the largest share by far of all the formal complaints lodged with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission over the last 20 years. What do you think accounts for this and what do you think needs to be done to address it?
Manitobans with disabilities are often invisible to the wider community. They are not seen and their needs or concerns are neglected. There needs to be a culture change in Manitoba where it is everyone's responsibility to accommodate the needs of those around us. We need to encourage the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of Manitoba. We need to educate our citizens in human rights and to ensure that all Manitobans are allies and advocates.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (PC) - Candidate: Rick Shone
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have a number of family and friends who live with a disability such as Down Syndrome or an intellectual or physical disability. Watching and discussing their life experiences has helped me better understand the challenges they live with every day and the types of support needed to help them live life with dignity, comfort and ease. Support needs of these individuals goes beyond what many family members can provide which is why Government must continually engage with this community and advocates and be responsive in how we can better provide the support required.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
The top one priority for myself and the PC team is meeting basic needs. Manitobans living with severe and prolonged disabilities deserve dignified support. After DMVote advocacy called for it in 2019, our PC team delivered Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities, a new disability income support program. There's certainly more to do, but enhancements we made to benefits in recent years are steps in the right direction. It's both important and urgent to get it right, so a re-elected PC government would conduct a review of the newly launched program and involve community members.
Q: Disability discrimination has made up the largest share by far of all the formal complaints lodged with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission over the last 20 years. What do you think accounts for this and what do you think needs to be done to address it?
A lack of public awareness of disability issues may be behind disability discrimination. Government has a role to play in educating against discrimination through public awareness campaigns that highlight things like the positives of hiring persons with disabilities. A re-elected PC government would undertake such a campaign.