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News release: Provincial Political Candidates Speak Out on Key Disability Issues at Campaign Launch Event

NEWS RELEASE                                                

July 3, 2019 – Winnipeg, MB – Manitoba Minister of Families Heather Stefanson, Green Party leader James Beddome, NDP leader Wab Kinew, and Liberal leader Douglad Lamont will outline their parties’ positions on disability issues at the Disability Matters Vote (DMVote) campaign launch tomorrow at Assiniboine Park from 11 am to 2 pm.

“If every person with a disability in Manitoba has four people in their lives who care about them, then 100% of Manitoba’s population cares about disability issues. That’s a powerful enough voice to determine the outcome of the provincial election and we’re looking forward to having our say on election day,” said Disability Matters Vote campaign spokesperson Margo Powell.

It is expected that up to 1000 people will attend tomorrow’s DMVote campaign launch picnic.

The grassroots, non-partisan campaign amazed political watchers in 2016 when its participants rallied thousands at the Manitoba legislature, held demonstrations in constituencies province-wide, and engaged with the public online.

At tomorrow’s event, co-spokesperson David Kron will outline the campaign’s key issues:

·        timely access to disability services and programs

·        a dignified income for people with disabilities

·        fair wages for direct support professionals

·        a fully-accessible Manitoba

·        unleashing the employment potential of people with disabilities

DMVote now has constituency captains working in every swing riding and campaigners are already out door-knocking, organizing rush hour rallies and planning candidate debates.

Party and candidate commitments and answers to questions about the key disability issues will be posted online at www.dmvote.ca

Spokespeople for the campaign, family advocates and people with disabilities will be available for media interviews at the event, which will also be streamed live on Facebook.

Elections Manitoba and People First of Manitoba will provide a voting simulation experience and will help event attendees register to vote.

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About Disability Matters Vote

Disability Matters Vote (DMVote) is a non-partisan public awareness campaign representing all Manitobans with disabilities, their family members and friends, support workers, and everyone working within Manitoba’s disabilities sector.

About Disabilities in Manitoba

Nearly 275,000 people in Manitoba have a disability. As the population ages, most of us will eventually face some kind of disability. Manitobans with disabilities reflect the diversity of the population as a whole in terms of age, gender, race, religion, ethno-cultural communities and political perspective.

Although widespread, disabilities are a particularly important issue for both First Nations and Metis communities – their members are at least twice as likely as Non-Aboriginal people to have a disability.

Types of disabilities represented by the campaign include, but are not limited to: vision, hearing, physical, intellectual, developmental, learning, mental health, speech or language, deaf-blind, and chronic pain.

Media contact:

Toby McCrae / info@dmvote.ca

Cell:     204.770.4234