Full Citizenship:
A Manitoba Strategy on Disability

Letter from the Minister

People with disabilities in Manitoba face serious barriers that prevent their full participation as citizens in our society. These barriers remain in place despite the ongoing and active lobbying by people with disabilities, despite the growing popular support for the inclusion of people with disabilities, and despite a mounting pile of provincial, national, and international reports that outline needed changes to our social, economic and physical infrastructures. Our government and our society have been challenged: we must remake our institutions in a way that allows people with disabilities to fully participate in our society. Our challenge is to become a more inclusive society, so that all Manitobans can enjoy the rights and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship. As Manitoba's first Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities, I believe that government, as an expression of the democratic will of the population, must act as an example and provide leadership as we create that society.

The leadership provided by Manitobans with disabilities and the organizations they have developed has shaped the content of many important policy documents: The Obstacles Report to the Canadian Parliament of 1981, the United Nations World Program of Action in 1982, the federal/provincial/territorial governments' Mainstream 92 Report and In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues vision paper, the 1993 United Nations' Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, the Roeher Institute's A Canadian Disability Resources Program, the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities' Two Hundred and Forty-Four Voices and a broad national disability coalition's A National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities: The Community Definition. There has been no shortage of recommendations on what needs to be done.

We have been told by members of the disabilities community that they are looking to government for action, not fine words.

In response, this White Paper proposes a strong Provincial Disability Strategy based upon a philosophy and a vision that includes persons with disabilities as citizens. Our Action Plan focuses primarily on areas of direct government responsibility. We have taken this approach because we believe it is necessary to put our own house in order. In the full knowledge that the task before us is immense and demands long-term commitment, the White Paper also outlines some of the many issue areas yet to be addressed. Finally, it sets out a proposal for how the community can better hold the government accountable for meeting its commitments to Manitobans with disabilities.

Governments are responsible to citizens. When some citizens are not able to claim and exercise the full rights and responsibility of citizenship, that government has, in some measure, failed. Government must also show leadership on questions of social justice: as people with disabilities gain access to their rights as citizens, other institutions of civil and commercial society will expand the efforts that they make to include and accommodate all Manitobans.

Although the path set before us is long, this White Paper will serve as a map to cheer and guide us. As we continue, we will be able to look back and see this White Paper as an important landmark on our journey.