Brad Evoy on Disability Justice: Shifting Priorities from Policing to Community Well-Being

Brad Evoy, Executive Director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities, particularly people with disabilities. Drawing from his own experiences, Brad has spent his life fighting for justice, inclusion, and dignity across Ontario and Newfoundland.

Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative

In a recent interview, Brad discussed the troubling impacts of the Toronto Police budget hike, highlighting how the $56 million increase in funding for the police is taking resources away from vital community supports like affordable housing, social assistance, and accessibility programs. “We are witnessing social murder in Ontario,” Brad shared, pointing out the failure of underfunded social structures to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.

Brad also shed light on the intersection of systemic poverty and Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) policies. He believes the rise in MAiD requests, particularly among people with disabilities, is a direct result of social system failures like inadequate housing and social services. “MAiD is the culmination of 30 years of social murder,” he said, emphasizing that people with disabilities should have the option to access housing, healthcare, and food—basic human rights that are currently denied.

Brad calls for a shift in priorities, urging grassroots organizations, social workers, and communities to push for systemic changes that support those who are marginalized.

This conversation is vital to the Regent Park community and other marginalized groups in Downtown East Toronto, where issues like underfunded social programs and police overfunding are felt deeply. It's time to change the conversation and invest in communities, not in systems that perpetuate harm.