ADVOCACY4LIFE

Connect4Life is Participating in the 2025 Pre-Budget Submission

Connect4Life Recommends Working Tasks Force to Solve Affordability Crisis for Ontarians with Disabilities

Pre-Budget Submission – November 19, 2024

Connect4Life recognizes that all Ontarians are facing increased living costs, and that the Government of Ontario is actively trying to address these concerns with limited resources. That said, Ontarians with disabilities already face higher living costs (due to medical expenses, for example, or the requirements of assistive devices). Connect4Life does not have a simple solution. But we are confident that at least a few constructive and workable ideas can be found through dialogue with all relevant Ontarians.

Connect4Life recommends the establishment of a task force, with a firm deadline and a mandate to ensure do-ability of all ideas, with the aim of considering how to lower living costs of families and individuals with disabilities, particularly those costs related to housing and transportation.

Instead of criticizing the Government of Ontario, Connect4Life is there to help find the solutions necessary to make a lasting and meaningful impact on the live and livelihoods of Ontarians with disabilities, their families, their employers, and their communities.

PDF- Connect4Life Pre-Budget Submission Nov 2024

Word Document- Connect4Life Pre-Budget Submission Nov 2024

Canada’s National Election: Your Voice Matters!

Canadian voters will go to the polls to vote for the candidates of their choice in the near future.

Where do you vote? How do you know if you’re registered? What happens if you cannot make it to the polls on election day?

This section of our website helps answer those questions, and provides specific information for voters with disabilities.

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 years old on election day, and prove your identity and address at the time of voting.

Visit www.elections.ca/scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&PAGEID=20 and fill in your information following the prompts and dialogue boxes.

Entering your postal code in the Voter Information Service at www.elections.ca/scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&PAGEID=20

Or you can call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY)

Or you can check your voter information card, which is mailed to every registered elector shortly after the election date has been set.

Local media, such as community newspapers and radio, report on the registered candidates for each political party in every riding/electoral district.

Major news websites also provide sections on election coverage throughout the country and often have listings of candidates by riding.

You can also visit Elections Canada (www.electionscanada.ca) to see a list of registered candidates by riding.

Stay updated through your local and community news. Community newspapers and other local media help promote non-partisan candidate debates. 

You can also visit the website for the candidates running in your riding, which might offer information about upcoming debates. Alternatively you can reach out by calling the campaign office of your local candidates to ask about candidate debates.

There are several ways you can reach out to candidates and ask each where they stand on enhancing accessibility for Canadians with disabilities.

Submit a letter to the editor of your community or local newspaper. 

Consider attending a candidate debate and asking a question.

Consider booking an information session and inviting candidates to speak to your group, organization or community.

If possible, visit the campaign offices of the candidates and share your views and concerns.

Most candidates (though not all) have a campaign office through which their campaign operation is located. You can simply call, email or visit the candidate’s office of your choice and ask what volunteer opportunities they might have available. 

  • Large print
  • Braille
  • Audio CD and files (i.e. DAISY)
  • Full transcription
  • Captioning
  • ASL and LSQ videos
  • Multiple Indigenous and ethnocultural languages

You can:

  • Vote in another accessible location in your electoral district with a transfer certificate. Contact your local Elections Canada office for more information.
  • Vote at a local Elections Canada office (called a Returning Office) on one of the advance voting days.
  • Vote by mail using a special ballot. You must apply for this in advance, so contact Elections Canada once you know the date of our national election.
  • If you reside in a hospital or a facility that provides long-term care, you may have the extra option of voting at a mobile polling station in your residence. Elections Canada offers mobile polling stations in some residences and hospital wards. If required, we transport the ballot box from room to room to facilitate voting. You must inquire with Elections Canada in advance.

Connect4Life will also coordinate an Elections Canada Community Relations Officer for Accessibility to speak to our community in the near future. We will post information about this session ahead of time. Stay tuned.

Welcome to Advocacy4Life

Advocacy is critical to effecting positive change, inclusion, accessibility and empowerment for people of all abilities. Advocacy4Life is key to helping us keep you up to date on social and political issues, government activity, and how you, your organizations and your communities can join us in making a positive difference in the lives and livelihoods of people with disabilities. Please enjoy our Advocacy4Life newsletter.

August 2024

September 2024

October 2024

November 2024

December 2024

January 2025

Mark Brown at Toronto City Hall – October 17, 2024 Meeting

Mark Brown gathered at Toronto City Hall with wonderful individuals from the Consistency Office. He shared his insights on voting as a person with a disability, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in the electoral process. Behind him, a striking painting by Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau serves as a backdrop, resonating with the city’s motto: “Diversity Our Strength.”

 

Connect4Life Queen’s Park – December 11, 2024 Meeting

Connect4Life and its team gathered at Queen’s Park to listen to the Member’s Statement presented by MPP David Smith. In his address, MPP Smith recognized the incredible work Connect4Life has done over the past decade and introduced the dedicated members of their team. Connect4Life, welcome to your house!

 

Connect4Life at the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee – December 11, 2024 Meeting

The Founder of Connect4Life, Melanie Taddeo made a formal presentation at the City of Toronto’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. Her presentation focused on the ongoing efforts of Connect4Life to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and empowerment for individuals with disabilities. Through this collaboration, Melanie aimed to highlight key initiatives and share insights of how she first developed Connect4Life and the ongoing efforts.

Would you like to receive your free monthly copy of Advocacy4Life in your inbox? Click here to subscribe.

Subscribe