PSAC Home  |  2002 news releases  |  2001 news releases  |  français

OTTAWA - In the federally regulated sector, persons with disabilities experienced a drop in their representation and their share of hires remains dismal, while in the federal public sector, they are quitting faster than they’re being hired and are more likely to be in temporary and low-paying positions.

"When it comes to persons with disabilities, the largest employer in this country, the federal government, may not necessarily be the employer of choice," says Patty Ducharme, the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Regional Executive Vice-President, British Columbia, and co-chair of the PSAC’s Equal Opportunities Committee. "All of us need to break down those barriers."

To discuss how they will break those barriers, the PSAC will be holding its fourth national Access Conference from May 10 to 12, 2002, at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. With the theme "Nothing for Us Without Us," about 80 PSAC members will discuss health care, legislation, including the need for a Federal Disabilities Act, and government policies surrounding the issue of disabilities. They will also discuss strategies on effective advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities.

The conference takes place in the wake of the federal government’s release of annual reports on employment equity in the federal public service and in the federally regulated sector. The reports reveal facts that raise concerns, including:

• among those hired as term employees in the federal public service last year, seven out of 10 are members of equity groups;
• 251 permanent employees with disabilities quit the federal public service last year, more than the 103 hired in the same period;
• close to half (49 per cent) of workers with disabilities in government were hired in administrative support positions;
• representation of persons with disabilities fell to 2.3 per cent in the federally regulated sector in 2000 from 2.4 per cent in 1999;
• the government cut funding to its Employment Equity Positive Measures Program.

Speakers at the Access Conference will include Kathleen Connors, Chairperson of the Canadian Health Coalition, and Mary Ennis, First Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, who will both speak about health care as it pertains to disability issues; Derek Fudge, Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress; Patty Ducharme; and Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President.

Media can attend the plenaries and presentations by guest speakers and should contact the PSAC Communications Branch for copies of the conference agenda and to arrange interviews.

- 30 -