PRESS RELEASE

Parliament’s First On-Line Consultation:
The Future of the Canada Pension Plan Disability Program

December 3^rd, 2002, Ottawa.  The Sub-Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities launched the first on-line consultation by a parliamentary committee today.  This e-consultation on the Future of the Canada Pension Plan Disability program will allow Canadians a degree of access to Parliamentarians that is unprecedented.   The Sub-Committee strongly believes that on-line consultations represent the next step in the path towards e-democracy in Canada.

In a joint statement, the members of the Sub-Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities remarked, “We have opened the doors to all Canadians to participate in our work on the Canada Pension Plan Disability program.  We expect to have a diversity of participation that is not normally possible in our traditional consultation processes.” 

This e-consultation is a pilot project that is the House of Common’s first attempt at engaging citizens via the Internet.  Canadians will be provided with an opportunity to participate at their convenience during the 9-week on-line consultation process, running from December 3^rd to February 3^rd, 2003.  In an all-party declaration, the Members stated, “it is our belief that the rich new input from this e-consultation will help shape our final report and recommendations to House of Commons.”

All Canadians are invited to participate. The Sub-Committee would especially like to hear from:

• Current and past beneficiaries, applicants, and appellants of the Canada Pension Plan Disability program;
• Physicians who have performed CPP (D) assessments in the past;
• Members of the medical community involved in rehabilitation;
• Those who have provided representation for disability applicants; and
• Disability and health associations at the national, provincial and local levels.

The on-line consultation will provide three primary means of participation:

1. Take Our Issue Poll – participants will provide their viewpoints on major issues facing the Canada Pension Plan Disability program.
2. Share Your Story – participants will provide their stories to the Sub-Committee and have the option to share their experiences with all Canadians.

3. Present Your Solutions – participants will be given the opportunity to present their proposed solutions to a range of challenges currently facing the Canada Pension Plan Disability program.

The Sub-Committee’s website is a great resource for information on the Canada Pension Plan Disability Program and the work of the Sub-Committee.  The on-line consultations can be accessed at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca/disability

For additional information please contact: