However, there is no change in the law and the discriminatory practice continues to affect other individual persons with disabilities and individuals with family members with disabilities. From CCD's perspective, the issuance of a Minister's Permit to a person has no relation to the demands the person is likely to make on Canada's health services. In fact, it is CCD's position that the issuances of a Minister's Permit is an abuse of power by the government, contrary to the intent of section 3 of the Act. Misconception and misunderstanding about the abilities of people with disabilities must no longer be allowed to form the basis of public policy in this area. In reality, people with disabilities in Canada, work, live independently, travel and contribute in significant ways to their community.
Negative attitudes create a major obstacle to social integration for persons with disabilities.
By this attitude, people with disabilities are devalued and dehumanized because there is an assumption that persons with disabilities cannot work or function in society without being a burden on society and that they will never be able to work or function in society without being a substantial burden on society. There is no weight given to the individual needs, capacities or merits of people with disabilities or the positive contributions made by people with disabilities in our society. Furthermore, they are given the message that there is nothing a disabled person can contribute to our society nor can they overcome the attitude that they are a 'burden' or have 'excessive demands' on our health care system. Therefore the effect of the Act also has the effect of continuing to devalue persons with disabilities who presently live in Canada and are Canadian citizens.