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| Last updated at 9:12 AM on 09/10/08 |
Ask candidates about their plan 
STEPHEN PATE
P.E.I. Disability Alert, Charlottetown
Editor:
The Green Party, Liberals and NDP would improve the lives of Islanders and Canadians with disabilities if elected on Oct. 14. We contacted all Island candidates for a local response. The Conservative Party did not reply.
It’s my understanding local Conservative candidates were told by the Prime Minister’s Office not to respond on campaign issues. Stephen Harper likes to control the media.
It appears the Conservatives plan nothing of substance to improve the lives of Islanders and their families living with disabilities after the election.
There are 22,000 Islanders with disabilities, which affect one-third of Island homes. They have lower incomes than non-disabled people, lack supports like wheelchairs or home care, have higher drug costs, and suffer discrimination in work and society generally. Many of the same issues are faced by seniors.
A disabled person who is unable to work will be living at 60 per cent of the poverty line on P.E.I. The Green Party and NDP would increase incomes for the disabled to at least the poverty line for those unable to work due to disability. The Liberal Party would partially move the disabled closer to the poverty line. The Conservatives have no announced plan.
Both the Green and NDP support forms of national pharmacare for those high drug costs. The Liberals have a $900-million commitment that lacks specifics. The Conservatives have no announced plan. Assistive devices like wheelchairs are expensive and 4,000 Islanders still need something. The Greens and the NDP promise coverage for all people needing supports. The Liberals will work with the provinces, which has created spotty results in the past. Again, the Conservatives have no announced plan.
The Green and NDP have promises to beef up Canada’s legal protection of the disabled. The Liberals and Conservatives did not respond on that question.
It’s pretty dry stuff but important. We have trouble getting politicians to change things based on election promises. Without a commitment before the election, there is rarely any change. Please talk to your candidate.
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09/10/08
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