Existing information indicates clearly the severity and complexity of barriers that continue to disrupt the lives of Aboriginal people with disabilities. Because the National Strategy has received political support at the highest levels, turf wars among bureaucrats should not prevent this initiative from benefiting people with disabilities. Aboriginal people have the right to a comprehensive and integrated approach to removing the barriers associated with disability. S uch an approach to Aboriginal disability issues within the federal government would ultimately save money, given that the present process spends increasing amounts of money on ad hoc attempts to address varying regional needs. Interdepartmental co-ordination is also the best method of preventing disability.
Government approaches to disability are too often health-oriented and curative in nature.
Identifying and eliminating the social, economic, political and cultural causes of disability for Aboriginal people is just as critical as removing the obstacles that currently limit their full participation in mainstream community life. The Minister Responsible for the Status of Disabled Persons, in collaboration with the other Ministers, should make public a specific plan of action to deal with the co-ordination of federal activities related to Aboriginal people with disabilities no later than 1 November 1993. The problems of fragmented programs and the lack of detailed data to establish policy in the area of Aboriginal disability stem from the failure of the federal government to set up an effective overall mechanism to ensure ongoing and consistent monitoring, advocacy and coordination for disabled persons in relation to all federal policies, legislation and regulations. In our previous report, A Consensus for Action, this Committee suggested, but did not recommend, that a national strategy on disability issues should include a centralized structure that permitted coordination and accountability. We therefore urge the immediate appointment of a ranking official of the PCO to assume responsibility for disabled persons and to perform the relevant ongoing functions related to cabinet activities.