A/HRC/43/41/Add.2
Annex
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons
with disabilities on her visit to Canada
I. Introduction
A.
Programme of the visit
1.
At the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons
with disabilities visited Canada, from 2 to 12 April 2019, to assess the measures taken by
the authorities to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She
sought to determine the impact of such efforts on the level of enjoyment of persons with
disabilities of their rights, to identify opportunities and challenges and to formulate concrete
recommendations.
2.
The Special Rapporteur visited Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Fredericton and Halifax.
In Ottawa, she met with senior officials representing different federal Government
departments, agencies, crown corporations and special operating agencies, including Global
Affairs Canada, the Department of Justice, Employment and Social Development Canada,
the Treasury Board, Health Canada, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Indigenous
Services Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Transport Canada and
the Canadian Transportation Agency. She also met the Minister of Public Services and
Procurement and Accessibility, the Chairperson of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology and representatives of the Canadian Human Rights
Commission.
3.
In Toronto, the Special Rapporteur met with the Lieutenant Governor and other
officials of the government of Ontario, including the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
and representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Children, Community and
Social Services, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Office of the Public
Guardian and Trustee. The Special Rapporteur also visited the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health.
4.
In Montreal, she met with the Director of the Office des personnes handicapées du
Québec and representatives of the Ministère du travail, de l’emploi et de la solidarité
sociale, the Ministère des transports, the Ministère de la justice, the Ministère de la santé et
des services sociaux, the Ministère de l’éducation et de l’enseignement supérieur and the
Ministère des relations internationales et de la francophonie. She also met with
representatives of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse and
visited the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-del’Île-de-Montréal.
5.
In Fredericton, she met with the New Brunswick Minister of Education and Early
Childhood Development and officials responsible for inclusive education and the integrated
service delivery model. She visited Nashwaaksis Middle School to learn how inclusive
education works in practice.
6.
In Halifax, she met with the Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, the
Minister of Justice, the Executive Director of Accessibility, the Vice-Chair of the
Accessibility Advisory Board and officials of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the
Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. She met the Nova Scotia Human Rights
Commission and visited the Emerald Hall unit for persons with psychosocial and
intellectual disabilities at the Nova Scotia Hospital.
7.
In all the cities visited, the Special Rapporteur met with persons with disabilities and
their organizations, including self-advocates with intellectual disabilities, persons with
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