Comments made by a Toronto-area MPP regarding the province’s BlackBerry-only policy for politicians are disheartening, the head of a local organization that helps people with disabilities says.
On Monday, Etobicoke North MPP Shafiq Qaadri rose at Queen’s Park to voice frustration with the mandatory use of BlackBerry technology.
“This approach is handicapping, retarding and penalizing MPPs, their staff and indeed all members of the legislative community,” the Liberal MPP said.
That word choice doesn’t sit well with Ann Bilodeau, the executive director of KW Habilitation.
“I was so disappointed to think that an elected official would actually use words … that are extremely hurtful to some very vulnerable people,” she told CTV News.
“Any four-year-old knows what the meaning of those two words are.”
Bilodeau says she’s also concerned because Qaadri’s comments appeared to be scripted, meaning they may have been seen by multiple people without any issues being raised.
When contacted by CTV News, Qaadri’s office responded that they were unable to comment on the story.
Liberal colleague Daiene Vernile, the MPP for Kitchener Centre, says she doesn’t expect Qaadri’s comments to change the government’s smartphone policy.
As for the specific comments, she says Qaadri could have made a better choice of words.
“Would I have used that language? No. Could it have been more sensitive? Absolutely,” she told CTV News.
Michael Harris, the Progressive Conservative MPP representing Kitchener-Conestoga, wants to see Qaadri to apologize for his statement.
“He should frankly know better,” he said.
For her part, Bilodeau says she hopes Qaadri’s comments will be used as an opportunity to educate people about the use of language.
