Legal & Political Issues
People First groups have become known across Canada as people who take action.
People First of Canada has taken some issues to the Supreme Court of Canada, the highest court in the country. Groups have held demonstrations at provincial government buildings and held “sit-ins” in government offices. Groups have had letter-writing campaigns to newspapers, governments, and Associations for Community Living.
People First groups have worked on many issues over the years. Here are some of the issues that were important and memorable.
Some issues that People First has worked on:
The "Eve" Case
Some people thought that “Eve” should be sterilized whether she wanted it or not. People First leaders formed the “Eve” committee and fought for “Eve’s” right to decide. The case went to the Supreme Court of Canada and took years but “Eve” eventually won the right to make her own decision.
The Name Change
Associations in Canada used to be called “Associations for the Mentally Retarded.” Individuals who had been labelled were very angry about the name - they felt it was insulting and labelled individuals who received services from the Associations. After a long fight, People First got the associations to change the name to “Associations for Community Living.”
The Poster Controversy
In 1988, the Canadian Association for Community Living had a public education campaign without talking to People First about it. Part of the Association’s campaign was a poster that People First members felt was insulting to people who had been labelled. People First leaders organized a protest at the Association’s Annual Meeting. The Association stopped the campaign and agreed to ask the advice of People First of Canada before they had another campaign.
The Ribbon Campaign (ongoing)
This is a campaign to promote the closing of institutions in Canada and returning people who have been labelled to their communities. People First encourages the members and friends of People First to wear black and yellow ribbons. The black ribbon reminds us of all people who have been labelled who have died in institutions. The yellow ribbon is to remind us of all the people who still have to live in institutions and haven’t got a home of their own.
The Latimer Case
People First joined with other groups in speaking for people with disabilities in the Supreme Court of Canada. People First’s lawyers argued that a man who killed his disabled daughter should not be let go free just because she had disabilities. We believe that Tracy Latimer’s life was worth as much as any other citizen of Canada. We believe her father should serve the same sort of jail sentence as anyone else would who killed another person.
The JJ vs. Nova Scotia Case (2005)
People First joined with other groups at the Supreme Court of Canada level in supporting JJ. JJ is a woman who had been given various labels and wanted to move into the community and access needed supports. Her husband, parents, and staff at the Hospital supported her wishes.
Because she was under the Adult Protection Act of Nova Scotia, the Minister of Health had the power to determine her living and support arrangements, as long as the plan is in JJ’s “best interest”. However, the Minister of Health approved a plan for her to move to a Regional Rehabilitation centre 125 kilometres from her family and friends and where she has lived all her live. This case was won and is a real victory for people who have been labelled.
There have been many other issues the People First of Canada has worked on over the years and there will probably be more in the future. It is important that we have a strong organization, with strong leaders so that we can continue to fight for the rights of all people who have been labelled.
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