Peter's Posts

BURNABY, B.C. - NDP MP Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster), critic for persons with disabilities, welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court today to oblige VIA rail to provide an accessible transportation system.

“This is a clear indication that there is an obligation to make Canada’s passenger rail system accessible to the five million Canadians with disabilities. It provides an obligation to reverse the neglect of the previous Liberal governments. The NDP is very pleased with the decision of the Supreme Court.”

Julian called upon the federal government to provide funding to Via Rail to enable the company to meet the costs and allow the kind of accessibility that is needed, as required by the Supreme Court judgment.

30 years of global leadership, 2 million Canadians abandoned

OTTAWA - In an open letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Alexa McDonough today challenged the federal Conservatives to declare their “clear and unequivocal commitment” to the rights of 2 million Canadians – part of the world’s 650 million people living with disabilities. The comments were made following the government refusal to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

According to McDonough, “this government has turned its back on 30 years of Canadian leadership championing the rights of people with disabilities internationally. How do we explain this betrayal to millions of Canadians who were counting on the Conservatives to speak in the international arena for their cause?”

39th Parliament, 1st Session
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, first, I must honestly say that I am disappointed. I fully understand the intention of the member for Chambly—Borduas, but I cannot agree with the amendment. The problem has to do with the fact that persons with disabilities always have to wait—and then wait some more. For that reason, even though I will support the motion, I feel that the amendment to postpone this for another six months is unfortunate. I understand the reason for it, and I know that it is proposed in good faith and with good intentions, but I find it difficult to support it.

39th Parliament, 1st Session
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I want to come back to the Liberal record on the disability benefit.

It is clear that in 1993, when the average CPP disability monthly payment was about 96% of the maximum allowed, we saw an evolution from 1993 through 2002. Effectively, through that period, when the Liberal Party was in power, the average monthly CPP declined from 96% of the maximum allowed to about 80% of the maximum payment. The maximum payment in 2002 was $956, which is well below the poverty line.

I certainly appreciate the sincerity of the member, and I know she is sincere in this particular issue, but how does she explain the disastrous record of the Liberal government in this same regard when what we saw over the period of the Liberal government was a steady decline in the ability of people to access the maximum amount allowable and also a steady decline in the actual amounts that were paid to people with disabilities?

39th Parliament, 1st Session
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, Canadian organizations played a leadership role in drafting the new International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13. Canada should have been the first country to ratify the convention.

But instead of ratifying this important convention, the government is dragging its heels. This is unbelievable.

Will the minister quit beating around the bush and act now to make Canada one of the first signatories to this historic document?