After writing an open letter to Minister Qualtrough, another was sent requesting an appointment with her (see below). The purpose is to ask about the government's plan to ratify the Protocol, and about her own plan to incorporate it into the new Canadian Accessibility Act in 2017. An update will be posted when a reply is received and after the meeting takes place. In the meantime endorsements for the petition have been received from provincial and national organizations like the Ontario and Canadian Community Living Associations, and the Ontario Catholic Teachers' Association. Endorsements are also being sought from the Ontario and Canadian Teachers' Federations. In a future update a list of endorsements will be posted. Finally, teachers' organizations across Canada are being asked to share and promote the petition with their students and school communities to get more signatures. Please continue to share this petition with your friends and contacts. ---------------------------------- Letter requesting an appointment with Minister Qualtrough, dated October 12, 2016 Dear Minister Qualtrough, This note is to request a meeting with you to discuss a matter of the utmost importance to Canadians with disabilities: signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol attached to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In January 18, 2016 I sent you a Change.org petition urging Prime Minister Trudeau to ratify the protocol. To date, almost 26,500 supporters have signed it and many organizations have endorsed it. On May 16, Minister Dion wrote me to say that government was considering ratification. And on October 5, 2016, I sent you an open letter stressing the importance of ratifying the Protocol soon so that it can be incorporated into the new accessibility act for Canada. At this time, I would very much appreciate knowing where this matter stands so that I can update my petition supporters and endorsers. Thanks for your attention, Salvatore (Sal) Amenta, PhD 14788 Kennedy Rd., Stouffville, Ont., L4A 3T2 (905) 888-5285