Reforms for Nova Scotians with disabilities behind schedule
In October 2021, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled that the province was systemically discriminating against people with disabilities.
The government was subsequently ordered to make reforms, including to move people out of large institutions and into small homes in the community where they can live independently.
However, in a progress report released today the province says only 189 people have left large institutions, a number that is about two-thirds of the goal the government had set for the spring.
Scott Armstrong, the minister of social development, says there were delays in finding staff to oversee the transfers to community living, but adds that hiring programs are catching up.
The department also says it has succeeded in reducing a waitlist for disabilities services by 293 people, exceeding the plan's original targets.
The Disability Rights Coalition — the advocacy group that led the original court case — says the premier's office should be more directly involved in keeping the plan on track.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
a few seconds ago
- National Post
Leslie Roberts: TIFF cowardly cancels October 7 doc to protect Hamas murderers
The Toronto International Film Festival has taken a deeply troubling stand — revocking an invitation to producers of a new film about October 7, citing video clearance issues and potential 'threat of significant disruption.' Article content This isn't about artistic differences or legal technicalities. It's censorship, plain and simple. And it denies audiences the right to witness the unfiltered reality of Hamas's brutality. Article content Article content Article content 'The Road Between Us' focuses on retired Israeli general Noam Tibon, whose story was widely covered in the days after the attacks. Tibon made a daring rescue of his two granddaughters from the Nova Music Festival, driving into danger to save them from the Hamas assault. His journey is both deeply personal and emblematic of the chaos and heroism of that day. Article content Article content The most contentious element of the documentary is video taken directly from the body cameras of Hamas terrorists. I witnessed the horrors of the Hamas footage during a recent trip to Israel with the Exigent Foundation. The Israel Defense Forces assembled 55 minutes of video footage from body cams and security cameras taken during the October 7 massacre of 1,200 people, mostly civilians. It is chilling. It's hard to watch. But it must be shown. The Hamas filmed video I saw showed terrorists shooting randomly as young people fled for their lives through the fields, and firing into the portable toilets lined up at the festival site, where dozens of festival-goers had taken refuge. They shot through the structures one at a time, as screams from inside were audible. You can see the fear in the eyes of the young festival-goers as some are taken hostage, thrown into the back of pickup trucks while their abductors celebrate. It's horrifying to watch and horrifying to imagine what those kids suffered. It also shows the joy the terrorists took in doing so. Article content Article content Pro-Hamas activists don't want the terrorist-filmed videos widely shown because they leave no room for euphemism or denial. It makes the attackers' intent unmistakable: to kill Jews and destroy Israel. These were not acts of resistance. They were acts of barbarism. Article content Article content Filmmaker Barry Avrich agreed to TIFF's demand to change the title of his documentary from 'Out of Nowhere: The Ultimate Rescue' to 'The Road Between Us.' TIFF also reportedly asked the filmmakers to identify the source of violent footage live-streamed by Hamas and to confirm legal clearance — another roadblock to keep the film from being screened. Disclosure: I worked with Avrich on a different documentary about 15 years ago. Article content TIFF's rationale — that cancelling the screening is about 'clearing rights' from terrorists — collapses under scrutiny. This isn't about intellectual property. It's about suppressing truth that some people find politically inconvenient. As the filmmakers themselves say: 'We are not political filmmakers, nor are we activists; we are storytellers. We remain defiant, we will release the film, and we invite audiences, broadcasters, and streamers to make up their own mind, once they have seen it.'
CBC
2 minutes ago
- CBC
Police investigating 'hate-motivated' assault on Muslim woman in Kanata
A Muslim woman was assaulted and threatened in a "hate-motivated incident" on an OC Transpo bus in Kanata Monday afternoon, in a situation which has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The suspect is a thin white man with a beard who left the bus in Kanata, Ottawa Police Service said in a Monday evening release that shared few details about the incident. OPS are seeking witnesses. Aisha Sherazi, a leader in the local Muslim community, said people are afraid, angry, and have many questions. "He allegedly used Islamophobic slurs and threatened her life," she said. "As a female as well, this touches a nerve for all of us. And so I hope the police are able to find him. I hope the community cooperates fully with them." OPS wrote they are "working closely with the victim and leaders in the Muslim community." The Kanata Muslim Association posted a "safety alert" about the assault on Facebook. "Visible minorities, especially women wearing hijab, please stay alert on public transit in the Kanata area," the association wrote. "If you experience or witness harassment or assault, report it to police immediately." Mayor Mark Sutcliffe publicly condemned the assault Tuesday afternoon in a social media post. "We must all stand together against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms," he wrote. "Everyone should feel safe while travelling on public transit or anywhere else in Ottawa." Later the same evening, Prime Minister Carney wrote online that the reported threats and slurs were "reprehensible," adding that "the perpetrator must be held accountable." Kanata MP Jenna Sudds wrote on Instagram that she had spoken with the victim's family to offer support. "Moments like these remind us of the power of unity and the urgent need to speak up, contact the police, and alert OC Transpo when witnessing an attack," she wrote. "Our collective voice is essential to protect those targeted and to stand firmly against hatred."
CTV News
20 minutes ago
- CTV News
Sask. government hosts harvest kick off event
WATCH: Saskatchewan's 2025 harvest season kicked off with an event hosted by the provincial government on Tuesday.
