Advocacy group for people with a disability says vote is crucial for independence

Shelley Petit, chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, says provincial policy affects how independent people with disabilities can be.  (Shelley Petit - image credit)
Shelley Petit, chair of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, says provincial policy affects how independent people with disabilities can be. (Shelley Petit - image credit)

The direction of the next provincial government will have significant implications for people with disabilities and their independence, according to an advocacy group.

The New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities issued a report last week evaluating the platform of each party ahead of Monday's election.

The report is meant to help people with disabilities and their loved ones make an informed decision at the ballot box, says chair Shelley Petit.

"We need to vote as if our freedoms and independent lives depend on it, because they do," the report reads.

Petit says that's because government approaches to health policy, housing, employment and other issues directly affect how well people with disabilities can function in society.

A new initiative from Elections New Brunswick is distributing proof of address letters to residents without a fixed address.
A new initiative from Elections New Brunswick is distributing proof of address letters to residents without a fixed address.

The coalition report is meant to help people with disabilities and their loved ones make an informed decision at the ballot box.  (Victoria Walton/CBC)

"All we want is to be able to contribute to society, and be a part of society like everyone else," she said in an interview. "Because we're capable. We just want to be able to demonstrate that."

As more than one-third of New Brunswickers live with a disability, Petit says the group should be factored into how politicians craft their plans.

Some parties scored better than others, but Petit says none of the party platforms for this election go far enough.

The report notes the main affordability promise from the Progressive Conservatives in the harmonized sales tax cut won't do much to help people with disabilities.

"The huge majority of persons with disabilities do not pay much in terms of tax, since they don't have enough money to shop in the first place," the report says.

"There is no HST on most groceries, or rent. This only helps those who earn a really high income."

It also flags a lack of details on collaborative care clinics from the PCs, and concerns with the location of some current clinics being outside transit networks.

The report applauds the Liberal plan to increase social assistance rates and adjust policy so that people receiving social assistance are not penalized as heavily if they are able to earn some income.

Petit said the targeted cut to the provincial sales tax on individual power bills from the Liberals would do more for those with disabilities.

However, the report criticizes the Liberal health plan for stating how it would help seniors, First Nations and 2SLGBTQ+ people without mentioning health considerations for those with disabilities.

The report also applauds the Green Party plan to boost social assistance rates, but says accessible housing should have been more explicitly discussed in the party platform.

In response to the report, Green Party Leader David Coon said the party has committed to province an added $600 per month in income to people with disabilities through an expanded social assistance program and increased rates.

The Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties did not respond to a request for comment on the weekend.

Some might not think disability issues are relevant to them, but Petit said there's still good reason for all New Brunswickers to demand more from elected officials.

"Anybody can wake up tomorrow disabled, and it happened to me at 48 ... and everything changed," she said.