The Convention is of great importance to us.

Citizens with Disabilities Ontario would like to encourage you to participate in the Federal government's online consultation process on the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Convention is important for all Canadians because it marks a "paradigm shift" in attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities The Convention emphasizes that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities. It also identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights, areas where their rights have been violated, and where protection of rights must be reinforced.

Canada signed the Convention in March 2007, meaning that Canada is currently required to respect the general object and purpose of the treaty. The Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians, and particularly of the disability community, in order to inform the decision on ratification. These views would also play an important role in informing any decisions that may be taken at the federal level to further implement the Convention.

Have your say! If you would like to participate in this online consultation, submit your views through CWDO, or you can submit them directly to the Federal government through their fully accessible Web site. www.hrsdc.gc.ca/consultations

There you will also find information on how to send your response by email, regular mail, fax or phone.

All contributions must be received by the Office for Disability Issues by July 31, 2009, midnight, Eastern Daylight Time.

Feel free to link the consultation Web site to your own Web site and to share the link with others who may have an interest in taking part in this consultation.