The Maples
Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) - Candidate: Eddie Calisto-Tavares
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
I have a Deaf son who I have advocated for the last 33 years for accessibility - ASL in schools - investment in Education - increase funding both K-12 and post secondary education - my advocacy has benefited ALL children and youth!
All children deserve to learn based on their abilities and we need to invest.
Provide coaches and mentors to young adults to help them with self esteem- seeing role members to help them achieve their best self.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
- increased funding to education and accessibility
- Basic income for basic needs because if people have to worry about putting food on their table or buying medication- they are not able to focus on all other.
- Jobs - training - practicums - ensuring educated people are working in the jobs they educated and trained for - so many young adults are under employed - because there are not enough equity in our workplaces - The OPUS Project focused on direct gap training to employment with supports financially and on the job training to retention.
- Seniors - supporting seniors with adapting their mobility needs; training people to understand their change cognitive needs.
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 believe there is a lack of awareness and a lack of empathy which is contributing to people not seeing the abilities, and wanting everyone to fit into a box that doesn’t fit everyone!
I often use the analogy that a fish can’t climb a tree - I can speak about the workplace and the need to increase awareness and the need for people to advocate for themselves, and employers needing to think differently on how to fully engage a workforce that requires accommodation - if you want a different result do something different.
This happens in public service too - educated youth with college degrees are doing Labour for the city because being Deaf is a barrier for them working in accounting and or administration! They are under employed and not given the accommodation they need to succeed because the job description says they need to have oral communication!
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Mintu Sandhu
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
Though my loved ones and I have not been affected by disability, I know many in my community do live with disabilities and I want every Manitoban, in The Maples and elsewhere, to be able to make a great life for themselves in this province.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
Each one of these areas interest me and are important and we need to make progress. I hope to be part of an NDP government that will take key steps ahead:
- increase wages for disability support workers so Manitobans with disabilities can get the best care from the people who know them best
- ensure people with lived experiences design our disability support programs
- improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities
- ensure no one working full-time lives in poverty
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 have the basic human right to fully participate in all aspects of life – but unfortunately, stigma and systemic barriers often prevent that from happening. Government needs to take action to combat stigma, to come at it from every angle 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: Sumit Chawla
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline