Enhancing Government Accountability for Disability Issues

1. Enhancing Government Accountabilityfor Disability Issues Michael J. Prince Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy University of Victoria 6 June 2004 Remarks to the Easter Seals/March of Dimes AGM-National Forum on Disability Issues

2. Outline • What is Accountability? • Why is it Important? • Developments in the Disability Field • Outstanding Concerns • A Reform Option: A Federal Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion

3. What is Accountability? • The duty to answer, explain and justify the exercise of public powers, the disbursement of public resources, and the achievement of public policy objectives • The obligation of public servants and government members to answer for their actions and inactions to legislative bodies and, through these bodies, to the public

4. Importance of Accountability • Central to our democratic system • Motivates policy makers, administrators and service providers • Provides measure of performance and prompts discussion of goals and results • Identifies areas for improvements • Focal point for citizen engagement and evidence-based advocacy • Raises awareness and understanding of issues

5. Accountability Developments in Canadian Disability Policy Field: 1 • Canadian Human Rights Act and Commission (1977-78). • Funding to disability organizations to build capacity (since late 1970s). • House of Commons committees on status of persons with disabilities (since 1981). • Minister designated as responsible for disability issues (since mid 1980s). • Office responsible for disability issues created within the federal public service (since mid 1980s).

6. Accountability Developments in Canadian Disability Policy Field: 2 • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Court Challenges Program (mid 1980s). • Employment Equity Act (1986 and 1995). • Activity limitation surveys to generate knowledge base (1991, 2001). • Office of the Auditor General periodic studies and reviews of programs (1990s).

7. Accountability Developments in Canadian Disability Policy Field: 3 • In Unison reports (1998 and 2001) set out intergovernmental vision of full participation of persons with disabilities. • Future Directions report (1999), federal government’s disability agenda. • Advancing the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (2002), first comprehensive Government of Canada report with outcome areas and indicators to track progress. Next report expected out later in 2004 or early 2005.

8. Some Important Developments over the past 25 years in Canada • Establishment of human rights, Charter rights related to equality and mobility, and statutory rights related to employment equity and other matters for persons with disabilities • New data sets on the life situations of Canadians living with disabilities • Shift from a ‘personal tragedy’ toward a ‘social environment’ model of disability

9. Outstanding Concerns • Despite these developments, there is continued frustration and disappointment in disability community that policies and services remain hit-and-miss • Rights-based processes rely on complaints and make decisions on case-by-case basis • Departmental nature of government creates silos, turfs, and cracks • Legislative committees lack power to produce sustained action by governments

10. Déjà vu Discourse on Disability • Most government and intergovernmental reports are strong on intentions and visions but weaker on what has actually been achieved (and not), how and why. • Leaves a strong sense among public that we have heard all the good plans before. • Mixed and slow progress due in part to absence of clear, consistent and government-wide accountability mechanisms.

11. A Reform for Enhancing Accountability for Disability Agenda • The idea of a Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion at the national level. • To supplement and strengthen existing accountability mechanisms in Parliament, Cabinet, and the public service. • To focus on federal program and service outcomes and results in a comprehensive, cross-governmental approach.

12. Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion • An independent office serving Parliament and Canadians, as a legislative officer with a statutory basis in the same way as other federal commissioners (e.g. official languages, human rights, privacy and information). • Not an ombudsperson role of investigating citizen’s complaints and assisting individual persons or families with specific programs. • Rather would be an auditor or evaluator role of providing an independent assessment of programs and services delivered and funded by federal government.

13. Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion: 2 • Could be a stand-alone office or attached to the Office of the Auditor General. • Close working relation with House of Commons committees. • Work closely also with Office of Disability Issues in Department of Social Development and Minister of Social Development. • Would have a Panel of Advisers including persons with disabilities and others to offer strategic advice on the work of the Office of the Commissioner to focus on key issues affecting Canadians living with disabilities.

14. Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion: 3 • Vision: To contribute to the Government of Canada fulfilling its agenda and commitments to building a society that is inclusive and respectful of all Canadians, by promoting the inclusion and participation of the full diversity of persons with disabilities in Canada.

15. Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion: 4 • Mission to promote accountable government, ethical and effective public service, and social well-being and inclusion of persons with disabilities. • Mandate would be to audit government operations and to provide information that helps Parliament hold the government and its departments and agencies to account for their stewardship of public funds and exercise of public authority. • Clients and stakeholders include federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations, Parliament, disability councils and commissions in provincial and territorial governments, and the Canadian public.

16. Commissioner of Disability Issues and Inclusion: 5 • Intended Outcomes of the Commissioner’s Work: • Improved effectiveness and public management of programs and services • Fuller reporting to Parliament of the performance of programs and services • Better informed public and mass media on disability issues • Stimulate improvements of existing policies and programs • Contribute to the well-being, quality of life and inclusion of Canadians with disabilities

17. A Final Thought… • Being in the midst of a general federal election offers a real opportunity to raise ideas like these and others that seek to enhance public accountability for achieving real progress on the full participation and inclusion of all Canadians. • THANK YOU.