Community Living Ontario

For Immediate Release

May 31, 2010

Society Must Recognize and Stop Harm Caused by Picketing at People’s Homes

Community Living Ontario Declares Support of Bill to Prevent

Picketing at Homes of People Who Have an Intellectual Disability

Toronto, ON – Community Living Ontario has declared its support of Protecting Vulnerable People Against Picketing Act, 2010, a bill introduced in the Ontario Legislature today by MPP Sylvia Jones, Progressive Conservative Critic for Community and Social Services. If passed, the bill would prohibit the picketing of group homes during labour disputes in the developmental services sector. Following labour disruptions in the sector in 2007 and 2009, community members and advocates from the disability movement, including Community Living Ontario, have called for an end to picketing at homes where people who have a disability live and receive support. According to these advocates, the bill is a step in the right direction.

“People who had their homes picketed by their support workers in 2007 and 2009 have been very courageous in speaking out about how this action affected their daily lives,” said Karen Gledhill, President of Community Living Ontario. “People literally became prisoners in their own homes when workers set up picket lines on their front lawns. Some couldn’t go to work. Others were prevented from visiting with family or friends. The fear, isolation, confusion, shame, and outright lack of privacy people experienced have left behind painful memories and emotional scars. Picketing at people’s homes must be prevented from happening ever again.”

While Community Living Ontario recognizes the right of workers to pursue action to improve wages and working conditions, its advocates assert that picketing homes violates people’s privacy, has damaging effects on their relationships with their neighbours, and contributes to attitudes of nimby-ism toward people who have a disability, undermining decades of work that has been done through the ‘community living’ movement to create inclusive and welcoming communities.

“No person deserves to have their home picketed. We live in a society where we each value and defend our right to peaceful enjoyment and security within our homes,” adds Gledhill. “It is wrong and unacceptable that we would allow some citizens to have this right violated because of a labour dispute that they are not party to, nor can control in any way. This bill is a step in the right direction of respecting the rights of all citizens.”

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Community Living Ontario is a province-wide federation that promotes and facilitates the full participation and inclusion of people who have an intellectual disability. More than 12,000 people are members of Community Living Ontario through membership in 117 affiliated local associations. Community Living provides direct support and services to people who have an intellectual disability, helps communities build the capacity to support people, and advocates for social change toward the full inclusion of all people in community.

For interview requests or further information contact:

Abigail Brown, Phone: 416-735-3101, E-mail: abigail [at] communitylivingontario [dot] ca