A group of disabled people in Nova Scotia is pushing to turn a historic court victory into funding to improve housing and care.
During a press conference today, the Coalition for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities cited the October 6 decision of the province’s Court of Appeals, which found that the province had failed to provide persons with disabilities with adequate social assistance and smaller homes.
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Specific remedies to the finding will be determined by a human rights inquiry board, but the province has the option of trying to “justify” the discrimination on grounds such as potential costs.
Vicky Levack, a coalition member who has cerebral palsy, said today that she is looking for Prime Minister Tim Houston to promise not to take the judicial path as it would likely cause years of delays.
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The coalition also says it is looking to get the new progressive conservative government to work with the human rights board and commit to reforms and set a timeline for their achievement.
The group has said the reforms should include ending the institutionalization of people with disabilities and include the swift elimination of waiting lists for community housing.
This Canadian Press report was first published on December 1, 2021.
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