May 2025

New Cabinet Without a Minister With Sole Portfolio for Disability Issues

On Tuesday, May 13, Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced his Cabinet. Inclusion Canada was disappointed to learn that there was no specific Minister with the sole responsibility and portfolio for disability inclusion.

Over 27% of people in Canada identify as having one or more disabilities. Having a Minister dedicated to advancing the full inclusion of persons with disabilities and their families ensures that a disability lens is consistently brought to the table.

We need to advocate even more strongly now to ensure disability issues factor into government decision-making.

As a member of the National Disability Network, we are committed to working with our national disability organizations and the greater disability community to hold government accountable.

Minister Patty Hajdu, Minister for Jobs and Families, is entrusted to be the Minister responsible for disability issues. However, the majority of her mandate is related to economic and employment matters. Disability issues need to be a first priority, and we are looking for strong signals from the new minister that she will ensure disability issues play a major role in her ministry.

In a recent letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, we called on his government to prioritize urgent issues, such as the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), during this sitting of Parliament. We also provided him with the priorities we want to see every Minister of his cabinet work on over the course of their mandate.

Click here to read our letter. >

En français. >

Invisible Institutions - Season 2, Episode 1 is now available!

We’re excited to announce the return of Invisible Institutions, the groundbreaking documentary podcast that investigates the past and present of institutionalization for people with intellectual disabilities in Canada.

In this powerful season opener, host and creator Megan Linton examines the history of the Saskatchewan Training School and the ongoing realities of institutionalization. The episode explores the risks and consequences faced by those who were involuntarily placed there. It includes accounts from people with lived experience, who share their stories of the abuse, violation and discrimination.

This important work is made possible through the support of Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada's Joint National Task Force on Deinstitutionalization. A heartfelt thank you to Megan for her continued leadership and compelling storytelling.

Invisible Institutions is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Stay tuned for news about the second episode coming soon!

Click here to view the latest episode. >

It's National AccessAbility Week!

May 25-31 is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) in Canada!

NAAW is an opportunity to explore accessibility and inclusion in the community. We join our disability partners in raising awareness about the critical need to expand access to inclusive supports, services, and experiences across the country. It's a week to celebrate our accomplishments towards a more accessible country for people with disabilities, while acknowledging there's more work to be done.

Inclusion Canada works every day to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada. Over the last several years, we have worked with People First of Canada and the CAMH Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre to explore ways to make information accessible for people with an intellectual disability and their families. That research is now available on our website as easy-to-read resources, info sheets, videos, and more.

Follow us on social media to learn about NAAW news and events!

Click here to learn more about NAAW. >

Click here to learn more about our accessible communication work. >

• On May 9, National Director of Ready, Willing and Able (RWA), Don Gallant, attended the 30th anniversary of LiveWorkPlay, an Ottawa-based employment agency. They presented RWA, Inclusion Canada, and Community Living Ontario with their Inclusive Employment Champions Award.

Don Gallant is pictured alongside other Inclusive Employment Champion award winners.

• On May 14, Inclusion Canada hosted their virtual spring fundraising event. Inspiring Inclusion - Hope. It brought together friends from across the country to learn more about our work and demonstrate how much we can achieve when we work together to defend rights, strengthen families, and transform communities.

Inclusion International 18th World Congress

Inclusion International is hosting the 18th World Congress! Join them in Sharjah, UAE, from September 15-17.

Hosted every 4 years, the World Congress brings together people with intellectual disabilities, family members, disability organizations, and their allies. Discussions focus on the big issues that are important to our global community.

Inclusion Canada is a member of Inclusion International's global network that seeks to advance our vision for inclusion around the world.

Click here to learn more and to register. >

New Resource Available for Advance Care Planning!

Inclusion Canada has launched a new resource to support advance care planning. Supported Choice: A Practical Guide to Advance Care Planning with Supported Decision-Making for Healthcare Professionals positions New Brunswick's legislation as the national benchmark for supported decision-making and offers workarounds for provinces still reliant on substitute decision-making.

The resource features plain-language checklists, printable summaries, and case studies to help clinicians move from "best interest" to "will and preferences" in facilitating and legitimizing supported decision-making practices across the country.

Click here to view the resource. >

En français. >

Our Federation - Provincial/Territorial Member Updates

Did you know Inclusion Canada has a federation of 13 provincial/territorial and over 300 local member associations across Canada? In this section, you'll learn more about their work to advance inclusion across the country!

• Inclusion BC developed a Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) Update. This provides British Columbians, and indeed Canadians, with key information about qualifying for the benefit, where to get support for applying, and more. Click here to read more.

• Inclusion Alberta is advocating against Canada Disability Benefit clawbacks for AISH recipients as announced by the Alberta provincial government. From attending rallies to petitioning the provincial government, they are engaged in a grassroots advocacy campaign with the greater disability community to combat the clawbacks. Inclusion Canada joins our provincial partner in speaking out against this ill-spirited and unnecessary government decision. Learn more here.

• Inclusion Saskatchewan will host its annual inclusion conference from June 6-8 at the University of Regina campus. This year's conference includes a keynote from Inclusion Canada's Executive Director of Legal & Public Affairs, Kurt Goddard. Although no longer accepting registrations, you can click here to learn more.

• Community Living Ontario is hosting a webinar on June 3. "More housing at a lower cost: the promise of individualized community housing" will explore a 2021 study by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services into funding levels and housing stock for people with intellectual disabilities. Click here to register.

• In a ceremony on May 6 at the Governor's House, Inclusion NB recognized several provincial educators with National Inclusive Education Awards. The awards are given to educators who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to inclusive education. Learn more here.

• In a recent CBC article, Inclusion NS President Stephanie Carver and volunteer Anna MacQuarrie commented on a new code of conduct being implemented in Nova Scotia's public schools that discriminates against students with disabilities. Read more here.