(Photo: Green Party of NB/Facebook Screengrab)
The New Brunswick Green Party leader says if elected they will take “bold” action to help residents living with disabilities.
At an announcement at his campaign headquarters Tuesday, party leader David Coon announced a four-point plan to improve the lives of the 27 per cent of New Brunswickers living with at least one disability.
The plan includes scrapping the policy which prevents individuals with disability from collecting income assistance if they are married or live with someone else, allowing individuals with autism to access the provincial mental health care system, introduce the New Brunswick Accessibility Act, and adopt the  Disability Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities written by the Premier’s Council on Disabilities.
Coon says his party would ensure individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities to access mental healthcare quickly following his election.
“People are shocked every time I tell that that’s not the case, that (mental healthcare) isn’t open to people with intellectual disabilities,” the Green leader said.
Coon said he’s been a champion for disability rights during his six years in legislature.
“My campaign office is accessible, I have hired staff with disabilities both short-term and long-term, but what really matters is what happens when you get elected into government. And I hope I have that chance.”
He says mental healthcare has taken a backseat in the province as the Liberals and Tories battle back-and-forth for control of the Legislature.
“So many issues, affecting the most vulnerable people in this province, have been ignored,” Coon said. “That’s what happens if you’re obsessively focused with how to win elections and how to stay in power.”
