Dear supporters: As indicated previously, a letter was sent to the Hon. Kent Hehr, who assumed Minister Carla Qualtrough's portfolio of Sport and Persons with Disabilities in 2017 . The letter requested an update on the process government had set in motion to sign the Protocol, which had been promised in 2017 and later postponed to 2018 to provide the time required for provincial/territorial approval. Supporters may wish to read Minister Hehr's response which is appended below this update. In sum, he says that government is going through the required process of consulting with all stakeholders, especially the provinces and territories who must abide by the CRPD and Protocol. This process will be completed 21 days after the motion was tabled on November 30, so given the parliament's sitting schedule the vote should take place on or around February 9. Assuming unanimous consent, the Optional Protocol "would enter into force on the 30th day after Canada deposits its instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations," so the entire process should be completed during the winter of 2018. A new and possibly final update for this petition will be posted around February 9, at which time a new petition will be launched on a related concern -- taking proper care of those who care for persons with disabilities. You will be asked to support that campaign by signing and sharing the new petition. Thanks for your continuing support. Salvatore (Sal) Amenta ---------------------------------------------- MINISTER HEHR'S RESPONSE: ---------------------------------------------- Dear Mr. Amenta: I am responding to your email of September 5, 2017, regarding Canada’s possible accession to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I have also reviewed the attached letter you sent to the editor of the Toronto Star. As Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, one of my top priorities is to promote equality of opportunity and improve the inclusion and participation of Canadians with disabilities in Canadian society. The Government of Canada has been working diligently towards making a decision on the accession to the Optional Protocol, while respecting the processes that must be undertaken across governments. While undertaking its own federal review, the Government of Canada has been consulting provincial and territorial governments since 2016, as accession to the Optional Protocol could affect areas within their jurisdictions. The Government is currently seeking their formal support, which can be provided once the provinces and territories have completed their respective internal processes. These consultation efforts reflect our government’s commitment to flexible and inclusive federalism. In keeping with the spirit of the Convention that the disability community be engaged in matters that may impact its members, the Government took the necessary time to also conduct civil society consultations earlier this year. As expected, there was strong support for accession, but the consultations also provided additional information on current and possible barriers and capacity within the disability community to use the Optional Protocol. The results of the consultation will inform the future work related to the Optional Protocol and the Convention. Following tabling, there is a 21 sitting day review period in Parliament, and upon receipt of written support from all provincial and territorial governments, the Government of Canada will undertake the final steps towards accession. The Optional Protocol would enter into force on the 30th day after Canada deposits its instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We expect this process to be completed during winter 2018. Thank you for taking the time to write regarding this important issue. Yours sincerely, The Honourable Kent Hehr, P.C., M.P. Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities