Action for Disability Rights in BC

35 members of BC ACORN’s Disabilty Rights Group took action last week. They rallied at an office of the Ministry of Social Development and delivered a letter to minister Moira Stillwell, which is copied below. 

The Disabilty Rights Group will continue to take action until the system that over 100,000 disabled British Colombians depend on is fixed.

 They were joined by John Bail, National Director of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Pacific Region, who brought a message of solidarity. 

35 members of BC ACORN’s Disabilty Rights Group took action last week. They rallied at an office of the Ministry of Social Development and delivered a letter to minister Moira Stillwell, which is copied below. 

The Disabilty Rights Group will continue to take action until the system that over 100,000 disabled British Colombians depend on is fixed.

 They were joined by John Bail, National Director of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Pacific Region, who brought a message of solidarity. 

Oct 24th 2012

Hon. Moria Stillwell 

Minister of Social Development

We are writing for three reasons, all of which we know are of the upmost importance to the over 100,000 people living with disability in British Columbia.

Firstly, we are letting you know more about ACORN Canada’s campaign for increased disability rates, and for making the system accessible for people with disabilities. We are actively encouraging disabled people, and their supporters, to join with us to demand a livable increase to both PWD and PPMB rates and to cut needless and harmful red tape that blocks people from getting the benefits that they deserve. We are not begging for this as we know that it is our human right to live with dignity, as we did not choose to have disabilities.

Secondly, we held a peaceful information rally in front of your ministry’s office at the corner of McKay and Kingsway in Burnaby on Sept 26th 2012. At this rally we were handing out literature and encouraging disabled people to not live in fear of the ministry, but instead stand up and demand what is rightfully theirs: a livable income. As a part of the rally our membership thought it would be prudent to deliver a letter – addressed to you – to the office explaining who we are and what we were doing. Unfortunately our leader, Gloria Yogyog, tried to deliver the letter and was refused by your staff, even though she was alone going into the office and she waited in line to speak to someone. Subsequently Gloria was treated rudely, and in the end the police were called. Naturally the police never came to break up a peaceful rally of 25 disabled people.

Lastly, we are asking you for a meeting so you can speak with us face to face. We are a growing organization of real people in your Province. We feel it would be prudent of your government to meet with ACORN so that you can better understand the issues facing the 100,000 disabled British Columbians.

We look forward to hearing back from you,

Tom Page
Chair ACORN Disability Rights Group