Rossmere
Green Party of Manitoba (GPM) - Candidate: Devlin Hinchey
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline
Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) - Candidate: Mike Chapin
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Tracy Schmidt
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
My perspective on disability issues expanded while I was attending law school, where I met one of my closest friends who uses a wheelchair. We spend a lot of time together and I witnessed her struggles with inaccessible spaces, with the lack of services and resources including disability support workers, and frankly with discrimination in the community and in her employment opportunities. I’ve learned just how much work is still needed if we are to create a community that is truly accessible and welcoming for Manitobans with disabilities.
I am also very proud to have worked alongside the disability community on the ‘Save-Door-to-Door’ campaign as a former postal worker. In 2013 Conservative PM Stephen Harper supported the elimination of door-to-door mail delivery across Canada as a way to cut jobs and labour costs. Postal workers recognized that the elimination of this service was not only unnecessary but would have devastating consequences for some people with disabilities and seniors.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
While I truly believe all five of DMVote’s priority issues are important for any government to take seriously, the one that stands out to me is services and resources. I’ve witnessed my friend who uses a wheelchair left to manage her own care and navigate our health care system due to a lack of disability service providers. The wait times for assessments, home care, respite and treatment are long and information surrounding the wait times is unreliable. Manitobans living with disabilities not only deserve better, but better is possible.
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?
Participating in all aspects of life is a human right. Unfortunately, Manitobans living with disabilities face stigma and systemic barriers that often prevent full participation. I believe the government needs to take action to combat stigma, and provide solutions so people can live with dignity whether that’s at school, at work, or anywhere else. We need to work with the community to implement and enforce the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, supporting education and awareness campaigns, and properly funding disability supports – including raising wages for disability workers.
People with disabilities need to be at decision-making tables. The Manitoba NDP will make sure the community is regularly consulted and included from the start – including as a part of our new Premier’s Business and Jobs Council.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (PC) - Candidate: Andrew Micklefield
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have extended family members with disabilities and have seen the challenges this has brought both physically but also socially and emotionally.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
The Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities program is proof of our government's commitment to addressing the basic needs of people with disabilities. This is not the first step we have taken to improve the lives of those with disabilities (all MLA offices are not accessible), and it will not be the last.
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?
I think the prevalence of disability related Human Rights complaints may be due to non-disabled people simply not being aware of how our norms and assumptions do not always translate for people with disabilities. Sometimes there is prejudice, but often intentional awareness can find a way toward accommodations to benefit all involved.