• Policy platforms related to disability and accessibility 
  
• Seniors and persons with disabilities will be entitled to the proposed home accessibility tax credit staring in 2016.  The proposed 15% non-refundable income tax credit would apply on up to 10,000 of eligible home expenses per year.  Eligible expenses include wheelchair ramps, walk-in tubs, wheel-in showers and grab bars.  It's expected the tax credit will cost the government about $180 million over the next five years.
• Providing $35 million dollars to the opportunities fund for people with disabilities for their projects to help people with disabilities across Canada prepare for the job market.
• Re-introducing the home renovation tax credit and making it permanent.
• If re-elected the Conservative government will expand Registered Disability Savings Plans, by increasing the level of federal matching funds.
• Renew funding for cutting-edge research into neurological illness.  Research into treatment is critical for millions of Canadians suffering from brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and strokes.

• Commitment to accessibility (including website, offices and alternative formats): 
  
• The Liberal party of Canada has joined forces with Essential Accessibility in order to make their website more accessible (you can download keyboard and mouse solutions free of charge). 
• On their website the Liberal Party has included their plan for accessible customer service in which they state that “The Liberal Party of Canada has developed a plan in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to ensure that the services offered by their party are done in an inclusive way in accordance with the act”.
• Policy platform related to disabilities and accessibility: 
• Cancel the Conservative government's plan to change the eligibility for old age security from 67 to 65.
• The Liberal party believes that the Federal government must show leadership and work in collaboration with provincial and territorial partners to address critical health care issues such as reduced wait times and strengthening home and seniors care.
• Saving home mail delivery.
• Work to ensure that more minorities are reflecte in positions of leadership by adopting a federal government wide open and merit based appointment process
• The Liberal party will introduce lifetime pensions for injured veterans.
• Negotiate a new Health Accord with provinces and territories, including a long-term agree3ment on funding.
• Deliver more and better home care services for all Canadians including more access to high quality in-home caregivers, financial supports for family care, and palliative care.
• Make the Employment Insurance and Compassionate Care Benefit more flexible and easier to access, so that it provides help for more than just end-of-life care.
• Eliminate systemic barriers and deliver equality of opportunity to all Canadians living with disabilities.  Consult with provinces, territories and other stakeholders to introduce a National Disabilities Act.

• Commitment to accessibility:​
• The NDP is the only federal political party with a standing committee that focuses on disability related issues. 
• The NDP will introduce a Canadians with Disabilities Act
• The NDP is also the only party with the constitutional provisions for the representation of persons with disabilities on the federal executive and federal council.
• The persons living with disabilities committee proactively promotes the inclusion, equity and interest of people with visible and invisible disabilities within all aspects of the party and Canadian society.  The persons living with disabilities committee has been involved in many discussions with the house of commons.  They have tabled discussions around having the government work with the provinces and territories, disability organizations, human rights groups and other organizations to fully implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 
• The NDP also supports the political participation of persons living with disabilities and has been looking into various obstacles that people with disabilities from political participation whether it is in political positions or voting.
• Develop a National Action Plan to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Policy platforms related to disabilities and accessibility: 
  
• Investing in home care for seniors and persons with disabilities
• Boost GIS by $400 Million annually to help lift seniors out of poverty and allow for dignity and livelihood in retirement.
• Providing leadership and coordination in health care services for seniors through initiatives such as designated federal home care transfer to guarantee basic level of home care services to all Canadians, and designated federal long-term care transfer to begin to address the shortage of quality care spaces across the country.
• Ensuring accessibility standards for all forms of disabilities are met in social housing.
• Implementing a national strategy to ensure​ secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians in partnership with the provinces and municipalities.
• Working with the provinces and territories to bring about increases to the Canadian Pension Plan benefit and income supports.
• Reinstate the Court Challenges Program and fixing the CPP disability appeals process.
• Cancelling the Conservative government's plan to increase the eligibility for old age security from 67 to 65.
• Committed to spending $1.8 billion over four years to help the provinces bolster care for seniors  This initiative would help to expand home care, nursing beds and improve palliative care services.

​

Green Party of Canada - Elizabeth May