A territorial NDP government would work to provide an assured income for those living with lifetime cognitive disabilities.

If elected Monday, the party would also establish a mechanism that would see people with disabilities monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The party’s announcement was made at the Yukon Association for Community Living (YACL) this morning.

It was greeted by applause from staff and volunteers there, and NDP candidates who were on-hand.

“There’s much work we need to do,” said Pat Berrel. He was wearing two hats, as the president of the YACL and the NDP’s Porter Creek Centre candidate.

“I am so proud to be standing with a team and a plan that fully commits to community living – Yukoners living with disabilities deserve to participate in all aspects of public and community life,” Berrel said.

“It’s not just the right thing for Yukoners living with disabilities, but for the whole Yukon community.”

Hanson then introduced her proposal for an assured income for those with cognitive disabilities.

Unlike the current social assistance system, the assured income would not be clawed back.

“A disability should not come with a lifetime sentence of poverty,” Hanson said.

In an interview following the presentation, Colette Acheson, YACL’s executive director, recalled one woman the group works with who was able to pick up 19 hours of work each week at a couple of different jobs.

She then saw her social assistance cheque clawed back by 75 per cent even after her hours were reduced. The situation meant it was better from a financial standpoint for her not to work.

Acheson praised the possibility of a guaranteed income where those with disabilities are encouraged to work and challenge themselves to their capabilities without having to worry about the financial strain that would come under the current system.

She was also happy to hear about the plans that would see those with disabilities included in the consultation on both the assured income and the monitoring of the UN convention.

Hanson described the monitoring mechanism as a “Canadian first”.

She noted it would be done within the first mandate along with an action plan to implement the provisions on the document in the territory.

A comprehensive review of territorial government programs and services to ensure they reflect and accommodate the needs of Yukoners with disabilities was also noted as part of the NDP’s plan.

Precise details of each part of the NDP’s plan are unknown.

As Hanson explained, consultation would be a key part of the efforts in how to proceed with each part of the plans.

Work would need to be done to explore information the government has on programs in place and other information that may be available should the party form government.

The first priority would be to begin those discussions, Hanson said, again stressing that the monitoring of the UN Convention would be a first in the country so the territory would be starting from scratch on that.