Kildonan-River East
Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) - Candidate: Ian MacIntyre
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have been blessed with good health and no one in my family has been disabled. My mother had a slight stroke 7 years ago and with physician care, physiotherapy, and speech therapy she has been able to resume her live.
As a teacher, I worked in Resource and spent time working with students who live with a variety of cognitive and/or physical disabilities. I worked with visually impaired, blind, and deaf and hard of hearing students. I worked with students with physical and neurological conditions, as well as some who were wheelchair bound.
I was responsible for programming, academics, and regular therapy. The supports I received through the school division and outside agencies was vital in ensuring a rigorous and enriching program.
I was responsible for finding volunteer placements and as students closed in on their graduation year work placements that would start once they graduated. Since my retirement I have been a member of the Board of a non-for-profit community-based organization that provides housing and supports to persons living with developmental disabilities.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
Manitoba Liberals want to move beyond the PCs Supports for Persons Living with Disabilities and move to two new programs without the limitations of Manitoba’s EIA program, which has long been one of the worst in Canada.
Manitoba Liberals are proposing two new programs …
- We want a provincial, guaranteed minimum income for individuals living with disabilities. People would be free to work and volunteer.
- We will consult with program participants and leaders to ensure that issues are addressed, and that the process is fair, equitable, responsive, and convenient.
A Manitoba Liberal Government will not directly or indirectly claw back benefits from recipients, as both the PCs and NDP have done for individuals to whom they had a duty of care.
A Manitoba Liberal Government is committed to the construction of 10,000 units of affordable housing over the next ten years. We update new accessible and universal design codes so that construction reflects the change.
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?
As persons living with disabilities have taken their rightful place in schools, business, government, and industry they have found their voice. Public Education teaches our children to question, everything. In the past 20 years, persons living with disabilities have voiced their concerns and made complaints. They have forced change and that can be seen in legislation across the country.
However, once given a voice, it cannot be silent. And it cannot stop. The Human Rights Commission is a conduit to government and the public.
Manitoba Liberals believe that: (please see my comments on Basic Needs, above)
- Access must be equitable across Manitoba.
- Technology advances enables the voiceless to be heard and to be a part of our society. Investment in new technologies for persons living with a disability is vital for a fully engaged public.
- Government-appointed agencies must prepare, update and make publicly available their plans to proactively remove barriers –
- Include building accessibility, including building exteriors in the proposed Built Environment Standard;
- Engaging fully on an ongoing basis with the disability community to strengthen the AMA (Accessibility for Manitobans Act); and
- Establish effective monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
- Educating the public is a key part of building awareness and acceptance. We will establish a PR Campaign around persons living with a disability.
- Disability Support Workers must be held to a standard of care with competency-based training. We will fund regular wage increases.
- We will seek the input of the professionals, organizations, and stakeholders in the disability sectors to develop further legislation, rules and/or standards.
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Rachelle Schott
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
My uncle suffered a life-changing back injury that at first drastically impacted his quality of life. Initially he was off work for a period of time to adjust. Eventually with proper supports and adjustments he was able to succeed in his career. I recognize that this isn’t the case for everyone, but it is my hope that more employers become aware and mindful of disabilities. My uncle's experience shows that with the right accommodations and supports people with disabilities can thrive. I want to help build a province where this is the case for everyone.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
I firmly believe that every Manitoban, regardless of their abilities, deserves the basic human right to fully participate in every aspect of our vibrant communities.
The Accessible Manitoba Act (AMA) was enacted with unanimous support in 2013, with the promise of a more inclusive Manitoba by 2023. However, the progress under the current PC government has been slow, weak, and under-resourced.
Our NDP commitment to an accessible Manitoba is unwavering. We believe in a province where everyone can work, study, shop, and enjoy recreation without facing unnecessary obstacles. Together, we can make this vision a reality by strengthening the implementation of the AMA and ensuring a more inclusive, accessible future for all Manitobans.
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?
Several factors could contribute to this disproportionately high number of disability discrimination complaints. First and foremost, it reflects a systemic discrimination against individuals with disabilities in our society. People with disabilities often face barriers in access to education, employment, healthcare, and public services, which can lead to discriminatory practices.
To solve this problem employers, need to be held accountable for human rights violations. This requires a concerted effort on behalf of government to ensure proper enforcement of existing legislation, but also looking at expanding legislation to protect those with disabilities in the workplace.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (PC) - Candidate: Alana Vannahme
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have friends whose spouses or children are disabled and I've listened to them describe how difficult it is to do even the most basic thing, like securing an accessible ride for a family outing. The discomfort we feel when we're witness to those daily frustrations is a powerful motivator to make improvements.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
The main priority is meeting basic needs, because 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 more to do, but benefits enhancements in recent years are a step in the right direction.
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; the government has a role to play in fighting back against discrimination through public awareness campaigns that highlight initiatives like the positives of hiring persons with disabilities. A re-elected PC government would undertake such a campaign.