Hi there! This is the April/May 2001 edition of Tone newsletter. This issue contains a variety of articles. The newsletter's page is planned to be updated regularly. So come back and see what's new.
There are nine sections in this issue. You can go to the articles by "clicking" on the coloured "contents" text or using your browser's scroll bar. If you want to give us some feedback, or submit an article for "Tone" please click on the "contacts..." text. Our newsletter addresses are located there. You can also go back to the VCP home Page and locate our E-mail addresses. We hope you enjoy our site and come back often!
The following is the current dissolution clause:
In the event that the Society should at any time be wound up or dissolved, the remaining assets after payment of all debts and liabilities shall be turned over to a recognized charitable organization with similar aims and objectives in the province or elsewhere in Canada as directed by the members.
The following is the proposed unalterable dissolution clause
:
Upon winding up or dissolution of the Society, the assets which remain
after payment of all costs, charges, and expenses which are properly incurred
in the winding up shall be distributed to a registered charity or registered
charities in British Columbia as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada),
as may be determined by the members of the Society at the time of winding
up or dissolution.
This provision shall be unalterable.
The BCCPD applauds the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to uphold Robert Latimer's conviction of murder. The judgement sends a needed, unequivocal message that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the same rights to people with disabilities as people who are able-bodied. It upholds what should be an obvious truth: that no matter what your ability or disability, Canadians are equal citizens under the law.
A great mythology has been built around Mr. Latimer over the last seven years in an effort to justify his actions. Tracy, his child with a disability, was lost somewhere along the way. Only in the last couple of years has the larger question of a guardian's responsibilities been discussed, as well as the questions around disability rights.
Mr. Latimer had responsibility for Tracy's life. He nevertheless made the chilling decision to murder her, carried out the crime - and then tried to cover it up. Our position has always been, and we are relieved that the Supreme Court agrees, that the murder of a child is not a lesser offense if the child has a disability.
We are urging the Minister of Justice not to intervene in this case by granting Robert Latimer clemency. The BCCPD has serious concerns that this case may pressure the government to create a third category of murder that would work to devalue the lives of people with disabilities.
Reprinted from the January/February 2001 edition of Transition.
Latimer has two avenues of recourse left. He can seek a pardon. However,
pardons are rarely granted, and when they are, only in cases involving
a serious miscarriage of justice. Because his sentence was handed down
in an unanimous 7 to 0 decision, it is doubtful that he will receive a
pardon. He can also be the catalyst to change the law involving mandatory
sentences. To this end, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has taken
up this case arguing that the law must be changed to allow for compassionate
homicide. Whether or not politicians have the will and desire to change
the law remains very much in question. The politicians face pressure from
disabled groups and their supporters to punish him to the fullest extent
of the law while Latimer's supporters are pushing for leniency. Another
wrinkle to the story is that some of his supporters are even willing to
serve parts of his jail time for him. Even though he has been sent to prison,
apparently this is not the end of the story.
Recently there was a small article in the Province newspaper* about individuals wanting to serve one month intervals of Latimer's life sentence for the death of his daughter Tracy. People are forgetting that a crime was committed, and Latimer did not even get the maximum sentence to begin with.
It is doubtful that anyone would want to serve time for any other crime or for any other person. Why are people only concerned about a man that killed his daughter and less concerned about Tracy?
This action sends a message that it is more acceptable to kill someone with a disability than it is to kill anyone else. With actions like these there will be more people doing the same thing as Latimer. No vulnerable person will be safe.
The value of life should be the same for everyone. There has to be safe guards put into place so that disabled people are safe.
*3 volunteer jail time - Wednesday March 14, 2001
by Laurette Yelle.
I recently read an article in the Province newspaper** concerning an employee at a Save-on-Foods store suing a person who drove into her on an electric scooter. The details of the case are somewhat sketchy. However, the case does raise a number of concerns that I have about people's ability to drive these things. Don't get me wrong, there are some good drivers. Its the bad ones which cause me anxiety, especially when I am around them. I don't know whether these people realize how powerful their mobility aids are, especially when they are on high power. Combine this lack of awareness with a physical inability to control their scooter or wheelchair, and you have a potentially dangerous situation.
Even though I do not currently use a scooter or wheelchair, I had a scooter in the past. I understand that most people would like a powerful one so that they can get to where they are going relatively quickly. I also understand that I could not leave my scooter on high power inside without the danger of running into someone or something. It is a balancing act having a powerful machine and yet not doing serious harm to people and things around you.
It seems that these devices are becoming more powerful over time. Yet there doesn't seem to be any training on how to drive them or an effort to match up a wheelchair or a scooter to the driving ability of the users. I would like to see more emphasis placed on looking at each user's ability to drive and then adapting the controls on the scooter or wheelchair to best meet his/her ability. The consequence of training and properly adapted controls would be better, safer drivers.
**Cashier sues after run-in with motorized scooter - Friday March 2, 2001
Reprinted from November/December 2000 Transition
THE VOICE OF THE CEREBRAL PALSIED OF GREATER VANCOUVER
and
THE VOICE OF THE CEREBRAL PALSIED HOUSING SOCIETY
JOINT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SATURDAY MAY 26TH HOLIDAY INN, METROTOWN
(4405 Central Boulevard, Burnaby)
The Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater
Vancouver
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
Suite 103, 577 East 8th Avenue,
Vancouver, B. C.
V5T 1S9
Production:
Chairperson of the Board of Directors - Ted
Nelson
Executive Director - Yoshinori Tanabe
Chairperson of the Newsletter Committee -
Laurette Yelle
Webmaster - Derek Isobe
Editorship - Newsletter Committee
<<<<< all volunteer >>>>>