Concerns from the Disability Community about Bill C – 22 and the pace of its movement through parliament.
By Kendall Worth!
On June 1st I wrote an open letter to Prime Minster Justin Trudeau asking him to provide an update on the creation of a DisabilityBenefit.
Following the posting of that letter, the Bill has been re-Introduced. I also brought this bill up in an open Letter I wrote to Minster Chrystia Freeland. .
However, it now turns out that turns out that all members of Parliament are not supporting the creation of this Disability Benefit to allow it to move quickly through readings, proclamation and implementation.
People are tweeting about it:
This tweet is expressing a concern I share. Both Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, have known for ta very long time that people with disabilities cannot afford to live without adequate support. During this government of Justin Trudeau they have several times indicated that they wanted to implement a disability benefit, but we are still waiting.
Another tweet which is concerning but also but also encouraging …
My Message to MP’s is now is not the time to be messing around/slowing down with the further readings and implementation of Bill C – 22. The income assistance rates in Nova Scotia and across Canada, continue to not provide enough money to live on. Persons with disabilities continue to and always will experience barriers to holding down full-time employment.
So Get Working on that Disability Benefit!
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After writing to the Prime Minister and Carla Quatrough I received the following bureaucratic bafflegab from a civil servant at the "Office of Disability Inclusion". Although initial consultation is closed they sure make it sound like a couple more years of "consultation" are to be expected. Not acceptable!
Date: September 22, 2022 at 12:06:33 PM ADT
To: kendallrworth@gmail.com
Subject: Support for persons with disabilities
Dear Kendall Worth:
On behalf of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, I am responding to your email about support for persons with disabilities.
As you may know, the Government of Canada reintroduced framework legislation for the Canada Disability Benefit (Bill C-22) in the House of Commons on June 2, 2022. The goal of the proposed benefit is to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities.
We are very aware of the fact that many Canadians with disabilities are in desperate need of the additional financial support that this benefit will provide. Our intent, therefore, is to move forward as fast as we can. In the spirit of “Nothing Without Us,” the Government will continue to engage with Canadians with disabilities and other stakeholders to inform the design of the benefit and future regulations. Engagement activities began last summer with Ministerial roundtables and an on-line public survey. Furthermore, consultations with members of the disability community and other stakeholders have taken place throughout the winter and spring of 2022, and community-led consultations will continue over the coming months. Engagement is also taking place with the provinces and territories, who play a central role in providing supports and services for persons with disabilities.
The Canada Disability Benefit is a key component of Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Action Plan is a blueprint for change to make Canada more inclusive of persons with disabilities based on the principles of equality, anti-discrimination, participation and inclusion in the development of our programs and policies. The Action Plan will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement with persons with disabilities. It will continue to reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world. In addition to the Benefit, it also includes a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities, as well as ongoing work to develop a better process to determine eligibility for federal disability programs and benefits. To monitor the progress of the Bill in Parliament, please consult the Parliament of Canada website at: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/C-22. As well, more information about the Bill, including translation into American Sign Language, is available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disabilities-benefits.html.
In addition to these initiatives, you may be interested to know that the Government of Canada also administers a range of other programs and services for persons with disabilities. The Canada Revenue Agency administers tax credits, which may assist in reducing the income tax they have to pay. These credits include the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and others, which can help offset the cost of medical expenses, including medication, personal aids, therapy sessions, and caregiver and attendant fees.
It is important to note that becoming eligible for the DTC also provides access to certain other measures for persons with disabilities, including the Registered Disability Savings Plan and Child Disability Benefit. Because DTC eligibility can provide access to other programs and benefits, it may be worthwhile for individuals to apply for the DTC, even if they do not think the DTC itself would be helpful in their situation. Should you wish to obtain further information on the DTC, you may contact the Canada Revenue Agency, by calling, toll-free, 1-800-959-8281, or by visiting its website at www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html.
The Government of Canada also understands that long-term financial security is a real concern for persons with disabilities and their families. For this reason, the Government introduced a first-of-its-kind savings program, the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), which helps families ensure that their loved ones with severe and prolonged disabilities can save for their future. The Government of Canada helps increase these savings by matching private RDSP contributions through Canada Disability Savings Grants. The maximum grant is $3,500 a year, with a lifetime limit of $70,000. In addition, the Government of Canada contributes to RDSPs for low- and modest-income Canadians through Canada Disability Savings Bonds. Beneficiaries that qualify for the Bond receive up to $1,000 a year, with a lifetime limit of $20,000. No contributions are necessary to receive this bond. Additional information regarding the Canada Disability Savings Program is available at
www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/savings.html.
Many other federal, provincial and territorial programs may be available to persons with disabilities and their caregivers. They can visit the Benefits Finder website at www.canadabenefits.gc.ca, helps individuals identify federal, provincial and territorial benefits available to Canadians, and the programs and services most relevant to their situation. If you wish to speak directly to a representative for information on programs and services for persons with disabilities and their caregivers, you can contact Service Canada by calling, toll-free, 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or TTY 1-800-926-9105.
Many programs and services for persons with disabilities fall under the responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments. If you have not already done so, you may also contact the minister responsible for disability matters within the government of your province or territory.
In the spirit of “nothing without us,” the Government of Canada also appreciates hearing the views of people from the disability community, who inform our policy work. To keep abreast of new developments related to federal support for persons with disabilities, I invite you to visit our departmental website at www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development.html.
I hope that this information is helpful. Thank for you for taking the time to contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Samir Chhabra
Executive Director
Office for Disability Issues
Income Security and Social Development Branch
Employment and Social Development Canada
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