leadership

“I wish with Bill C-22 in conjunction with Quebec assistance programs, I wish that we could find a way to make it work so that I could live with the person I love and have a sense of freedom and financial autonomy.”

Elizabeth Lowe is a young woman who was born with Cerebral Palsy. Fluent in French, English and Spanish, she completed her collegiate studies at Champlain St-Lawrence regional college, majoring in Arts, Languages and Communication.  Elizabeth is a voracious reader and writer and was awarded third place prize in the 2021 Morrin Centre writing contest.

“I am able to work part-time, but because of social benefit restrictions here in Quebec, I’m limited to a symbolic pay rate of $200 per month. So that still leaves me drastically below the poverty line.”

Elizabeth is a dedicated volunteer. When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Elizabeth strived to find creative ways to help out her community, doing online inventory for the YWCA as well as friendly Zoom calls with senior citizens.

In 2021, Elizabeth began her internship at Carrefour familial des personnes handicapées, a Quebec community organization for self-help and self-advocacy run by people with disabilities. Elizabeth has integrated well into the team, and for the past 2 years has held the position of reception and information clerk and other related tasks.

Elizabeth is also increasingly developing her skills in working with disabled members of the association. What she loves most about her job is the wide variety of tasks and responsibilities Every day is different – she’s never bored!

Since 2022, Elizabeth has cultivated a growing interest in activism, campaigning specifically for the cause of people with disabilities. Indeed, she is proud of the fact that she has spoken on issues concerning the quality of Quebec City’s paratransit service at board meetings of the capital’s transportation network.

* Quotes taken from Elizabeth’s testimony at the SOCI committee on April 20, 2023.