Speech from  the Honourable Carla Qualtrough - Tenth Session of the Conference of States Parties on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

United Nations Headquarters, New York

June 13, 2017

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Mr. President, distinguished delegates,

As Canada’s first ever Minister for Persons with Disabilities, it is an honour for me to represent Canada at this 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This privileged position allows me to be a vocal and proactive advocate among my colleagues at cabinet for Canadians with disabilities.

As someone with a disability, this is a particular honour to be here today.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has entrusted me with the mandate to ensure greater accessibility and opportunities for Canadians with disabilities. One specific component of that is the development of accessibility legislation that will transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility for Canadians with Disabilities.

Over the course of the past year, we heard the views of nearly 6,000 Canadians through the most accessible and inclusive consultations ever undertaken by the Government of Canada in Canadian history.

Our next step is to incorporate what we have heard into legislation that will increase the inclusion and participation of all Canadians in society, and that will promote equality of opportunity by removing barriers in areas of federal jurisdiction.

Internationally, our key priorities include advocating for disability rights, inclusion, and the full participation of persons with disabilities through multilateral initiatives, our international assistance, and humanitarian activities.

Through our international assistance, Canada funds a number of initiatives geared towards reducing poverty and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in our partner countries. Between 2010 and 2016, Canada invested over 77 million dollars in international projects focussed on disability issues or advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

To this end, I am pleased to announce today Canada’s new membership in the Global Action on Disability Network, an important network for exchanging ideas, best practices and lessons learned on how to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in international development efforts, efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and humanitarian action.

Through Canada’s engagement with its multilateral humanitarian partners, Canada supports resolutions related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in international humanitarian responses. Through Canada’s engagement with experienced non-governmental organizations, Canada supports specific initiatives related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in its humanitarian response.

Canada will continue to work with its partners to identify opportunities to better support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in its international humanitarian assistance efforts.

I am therefore also pleased to announce today, on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, that Canada is endorsing the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action. We encourage other Governments and donors supporting emergency response, to also consider endorsing the Charter and to join all the signatories in reinforcing our collective determination to make humanitarian action inclusive of persons with disabilities.

Participation in decision-making is one of the key priority areas of the United Nations agenda on youth. We are proud to say that in support of our Prime Minister’s commitment to youth, our delegation includes five youth with disabilities from across Canada. These youth are leaders in seeking equality for persons with disabilities, and we look forward to their active participation over the next three days.

The Government of Canada is committed to the ongoing implementation of the principles contained within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Convention), and to further strengthening our partnership with the United Nations.

As such, our Government was pleased to announce, on December 1^st, that Canada had begun the process to consider accession to the Optional Protocol. As well, Canada acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty, and launched the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission’s Video Relay Service, which enhances the ability of people whose first language is American Sign Language or Langue des signes québécoise to participate fully in Canada’s communication system.

In April, Canada had its first appearance before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The appearance afforded us the opportunity to reflect on our record, and discuss how to better implement the Convention within Canada. Although the Committee identified areas where challenges remain, Canada’s leadership on disability was highlighted, and we will continue to work towards achieving the high standards to which the Committee has held us.

On all of these initiatives, we worked with and continue to include people with disabilities and their representative organizations in decisions that affect them.

Mr. President, Canada is committed to its obligations as a State Party to the Convention and to working together with the United Nations system to address the challenges that continue to exist for persons with disabilities.

We look forward to working with fellow member states over the next three days to develop more prosperous and inclusive societies for everyone.

Thank you.