Wolseley
Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba (CPC-M) - Candidate: Cam Scott
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
Disability touches the lives of every single Manitoban in intimate and unexpected ways; countless friends, family, comrades, and community members live with disabilities and I’m familiar with the physical and institutional obstacles to accessing housing, work, healthcare, and both public and particularly private space. Labour is often disabling, as is age, and so many disabilities including my own are invisible—my own practical experience confirms that this is not a special interest issue but an essential framework for discussing politics.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
Income inadequacy and the necessity of addressing people’s basic needs with legislation and immediate EIA reform. We’ve long called for the transformation of EIA into a guaranteed liveable income, and Manitoba Supports is a step in the right direction that must be taken further still.
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?
All of these experiences of marginalization are mediated in and by one another, and disability is not a separate social experience but overlaps all of these other categories too. It’s hard to treat any of these human rights complaints separately, but I believe that truly popular and democratic control of the economy and all social services is the essential step towards an actually dynamically inclusive society that can convey these issues to one another.
Green Party of Manitoba (GPM) - Candidate: Janine Gibson
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
Limited access to events and facilities causing pain and embarrassment and social isolation, too much effort to go out.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
Accessible and affordable housing is key but so is having sufficient income to be healthy and not stressed, and free and available transportation options.
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?
So much of our western culture is fear based, from institutional hierarchies and colonialism, “othering” non dominant groups; so our conscious efforts moving to a more equitable, compassionate, respectful culture, where all biology, of which we are a part, is cherished for its diversity, is key.
Manitoba Liberal Party (MLP) - Candidate: Philip Spevack
The candidate did not respond by our September 20, 2023 deadline
New Democratic Party of Manitoba (NDP) - Candidate: Lisa Naylor
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
My life partner lives with several disabling conditions, some invisible and others more obvious. This has been a part of our life together for more than two decades and has taught me a great deal about accessibility and stigma. While I have other loved ones with mobility limitations or other disabilities, living day to day with someone and experiencing the world with them has had a significant impact. As an aging woman, I am also aware that many abilities are temporary and I’m facing my own challenges with hearing loss. Early in my career I worked with children who were born with cognitive or physical disabilities that affect their entire lives and that of their families. I understand there is a great deal of work to do to move us towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
All of the priorities are important and I'm committed to the NDP goals of removing barriers to accessibility, building more affordable housing, creating employment opportunities and reducing waitlists for services. I am also especially committed to appropriate training and fair wages for those who work in the disability sector. I've been a vocal advocate in the Legislature and critic of the current government for their disregard for frontline disability support workers, personal care attendants, and homecare workers. I will continue to push for fair wages that reflect this important work and competency-based training that ensures the best care for folks who need it.
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?
There is still a lot of stigma and ignorance about disabilities and accommodation in the work force. Folks with mobility impairments or cognitive impairments may appear more vulnerable and an easier target for bullying, harassment or neglect. I think that better training and ongoing support for support workers is an important step. Greater community education and motivation to create more inclusive spaces is important. In a city like Winnipeg, there needs to be greater attention to clearing snow, fixing sidewalks and upgrading old buildings to reduce unnecessary barriers.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (PC) - Candidate: Michelle Leuzzi
Q: How have disabilities played a role in your life and the lives of your loved ones?
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important issue. My grandfather was confined to a wheelchair, after having a leg amputated due to diabetes. Admittedly I was young at the time but I do remember us being limited as to where we could go out as a family and having to make plans considering my grandfather’s limitations.
Q: Which one of DMVote’s 5 priority issues is of the greatest interest to you and why?
I feel that providing adequate training, employment supports, and opportunities are crucial to ensuring that Manitobans with disabilities are fully engaged with society and not marginalized because of income disparity. Employment is so important in maintaining dignity and independence for an individual.
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 that a lack of public awareness of disability issues leads to many complaints to the Human Rights Commission. Greater public education is needed to combat this. Simple things like an employer’s obligations to make reasonable accommodation for an employee are a source of complaints that can be easily be avoided with basic education for employers.