Ministerial Advisory Committee on Disability

The Prince Edward Island Ministerial Advisory Committee on Disability Issues was created in June 2004 to serve in an advisory capacity to the Government through the minister responsible for people with disabilities. The 12 members are selected from various communities across Prince Edward Island and is a diverse group. The committee is available to the Minister Responsible for People with Disabilities for ongoing consultation.

The purpose of the Advisory Committee is:

To provide the Minister Responsible for People with Disabilities with an ongoing consumer voice and advice on issues affecting individuals with disabilities. Advisory Committee members bring a wide range of nonpartisan views and experience with disability issues to ensure that the Minister hears the widest possible perspective.
The Advisory Committee provides a cross-disability perspective on disability issues and not the perspective of the disability groups with which members may be involved.
The Advisory Committee is an advisory body to the Minister Responsible for People with Disabilities that does not duplicate the role of community advocates. The Advisory Committee is expected to engage in a broader reflection on issues and develop some consensus regarding public policy advice relating to people with disabilities. Committee members therefore need to be not only cognizant of issues and concerns of the disability community, but also need to be able to apply this understanding within a public policy context.

The Advisory Committee has three primary functions:

convey knowledge and understanding of disability issues to government;
advise government as it establishes priorities, develops policies and implements programs;
establish and maintain ongoing consultation with the disability community. This is to be accomplished through informal contact made by individual members and possibly through more formal consultations with the disability community.