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The Disability Policy in Canada Provincial and Territorial Report 2025

Report provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of disability policy across Canadian provinces and territories. Summary: British Columbia — uneven access to services/infrastructure; lack of unified standards and transparent reporting. Alberta — long waitlists for assessments/services (FSCD/PDD), overloaded case managers, staffing shortages. Saskatchewan — insufficient capacity in housing and day programs; bottlenecks in youth-to-adult transitions. Manitoba — slow progress on accessibility standards; weak compliance/enforcement. Ontario — service barriers and inadequate ODSP adequacy amid high living costs. Quebec — adequacy of income support for long-term disabilities; complex system navigation. Nova Scotia — legacy issues from past benefit errors; fragmented services. New Brunswick — scattered environmental/service barriers; lack of uniform requirements. Newfoundland and Labrador — gradual rollout of rules; uneven access across regions. Prince Edward Island — limited...
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The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD) is an international treaty that was adopted in 2006 to help protect the rights of people with disabilities around the world. Canada and 183 other states parties have accepted the legal obligations contained in the CRPD. These obligations include ensuring there are national laws to prevent discrimination, eliminating barriers to accessibility, and working to promote the capabilities and contributions of people with disabilities. The CRPD also includes processes to make sure that countries are meeting these obligations. Canada and other countries must regularly report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to explain what they are doing to make sure that people with disabilities can fully exercise their rights. In Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission also monitors how well Canada is implementing the CRPD. Canada and 99 other states parties have also signed on to the...

Government of Saskatchewan Provides Increased Funding to Support Persons with Disabilities

Adults with intellectual disabilities will benefit from an increased investment in the 2025-26. · The province is increasing funding for supports to adults with intellectual disabilities: +$9.7 million for programs and services. · Expected impact: 215 people will receive new or expanded supports (residential and day programs, transition supports from youth to adult services, and operating funds for newly built group homes). · Capital: +$1.7 million for construction/planning of 10 new group homes and 1 assessment & stabilization home; planning begins for a medical group home for individuals with complex health needs. · Accessibility for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community: +$140,000 to Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services to expand interpreting services province-wide. · Measures align with the Accessible Saskatchewan Act (in force since Dec 3, 2023), aimed at improving accessibility and participation in community life. Bottom line: Targeted capacity and service expansi...

Alberta’s Disability Services Face ‘All-Out War,’ AUPE Warns

AUPE (Alberta Union of Provincial Employees) says the province is waging an “all-out war” on the disability community and held info-pickets (incl. in Red Deer) to spotlight a staffing crisis in disability services. Reported pressure points are the FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities) and PDD (Program for Persons with Developmental Disabilities) programs: long waitlists for assessments and heavy caseloads for caseworkers. AUPE links hiring freezes and planned cuts to worsening access for families and adults with disabilities. The union urges the government to reverse staff reductions, lift the hiring freeze, and add resources to reduce queues and stabilize services. https://reddeeradvocate.com/2025/01/28/province-executing-all-out-war-on-disability-community-say-aupe

Developmental Services Waitlist Class Action

Ontario has been negligent and breached duties it owes to the class members under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, by virtue of these waitlists, some of which can last for years at a time as a result of the broken system. The issue of waitlists for desperately needed services has been a repeatedly identified issue for years, which Ontario has continued to ignore and failed to act upon in any reasonable manner. This action has been certified by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Amended Statement of Claim https://kmlaw.ca/cases/ontario-support-services-waitlist-class-action/

Webcast of Supreme Court of Nova Scotia Proceeding

Video from the courtroom of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court (Halifax) in case SH-514712 — Isai Estey, by his litigation guardian E. Anne MacRae, v. the Attorney General of Nova Scotia (His Majesty the King in Right of Nova Scotia). This is a class action on behalf of people with disabilities who, for years, were denied or underpaid benefits under the provincial ESIA/Disability Support system. The court has recently approved a settlement totaling approximately $32–34 million, with the proviso that these payments will not be treated as income for recipients. The Courts of Nova Scotia, case SH-514712

Nova Scotia judge approves $32-million settlement for people with disabilities

· A court has approved a class-action settlement: Nova Scotia will pay up to $32M (potentially up to $34M) to people with disabilities who were denied social benefits for years—up to ~2,600 eligible recipients. · The judge called the deal “fair and reasonable.” The claim relied on alleged breaches of Charter sections 7 and 15 (life/security and equality). · After administrative costs and legal fees, about $18M remains for class members; distribution is expected to take around two years. · Payments will not be counted as income for recipients. · The story connects to earlier DRC findings of systemic discrimination and to ongoing reforms to community-living supports. https://globalnews.ca/news/11517171/class-action-settlement-nova-scotia-disabilities