Advocacy group for people with a disability says vote is crucial for independence

The direction of the next provincial government will have significant implications for people with disabilities and their independence, according to an advocacy group.

The New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities issued a report last week evaluating the platform of each party ahead of Monday'selection.

The report is meant to help people with disabilities and their loved ones make an informed decision at the ballot box, sayschair Shelley Petit.

"We need to vote as if our freedoms and independent lives depend on it,because they do," the report reads.

Petit says that's because governmentapproaches to health policy, housing, employment and other issues directly affect how well people with disabilities can functionin society.

"All we want is to be able to contribute to society, and be a part of society like everyone else," she said in an interview."Because we're capable. We just want to be able to demonstrate that."

As more than one-third of New Brunswickerslive with a disability, Petit says the group should be factored into how politicians craft their plans.

Some parties scored better than others, but Petit says none of the party platforms for this election go far enough.

The report notes themain affordability promise from the Progressive Conservatives in the harmonized sales tax cut won't do much to help people with disabilities.

"The huge majority of persons with disabilities do not pay much in terms of tax, since they don't have enough money to shop in the first place," the report says.

"There is no HST on most groceries, or rent. This only helps those who earn a really high income."

It also flags a lack of details on collaborative care clinics from the PCs, and concerns with the location of some current clinics being outside transit networks.

The report applauds the Liberal plan to increase social assistance rates and adjust policy so that people receiving social assistance are not penalized as heavily if they are able to earn some income.

Petit said thetargeted cut to the provincial sales tax on individual power bills from the Liberals would do more for those with disabilities.

However, the report criticizes the Liberal health plan for stating how it would help seniors, First Nations and2SLGBTQ+ people without mentioning health considerations forthose with disabilities.

The report also applauds the Green Party plan to boost social assistance rates, but says accessible housing should have been more explicitly discussed in the party platform.

In response to the report, Green Party Leader David Coon said the party has committed to province an added $600 per month in income to people with disabilities through an expandedsocial assistance programand increased rates.

The Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties did not respond to a request for comment on the weekend.

Some might not think disability issues are relevant to them, but Petitsaidthere's still good reason for all New Brunswickersto demand more fromelected officials.

"Anybody can wake up tomorrow disabled, and it happened to me at 48 ... and everything changed," she said.