By Kendall Worth!
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| Minister Kamal Khera |
Dear Minster Kamal Khera;
I am writing this letter to you today because it has come my attention, and that of others in the Disability Community, that in the recent cabinet shuffle, you became the new Minster of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities. I am writing to you today because as I am very sure you already know, your colleague Carla Qualtrough started the work making the Canadian Disability Benefit.
I have a specific purpose in writing today’s letter.
Back in July of 2023, Carla Qualtrough, then Minister, told Canadians that it is going to take another 12 to 16 months for those of us who will potentially qualify for the benefit to start receiving payments. Also it remains unknown , assuming we qualify, how much we are going to receive as our entitlement. I want to point out that all Canadians, during the short lived time of CERB, received $2000 a month and that made all the difference. Now that Canadians with disabilities, are receiving a lot less on their provincial systems/programs, it means that many Canadians with disabilities are back to suffering. With incomes too low to live on. More and More persons with disabilities are becoming, or, are at risk of becoming homeless, while we patiently await for details to get ironed out for the new Disability Benefit.
As a result, the specific ask in this letter, on behalf of all of us in the Disability Community, is that you speed along, whatever work is left to get this Disability Benefit created. Everyone in Canada who is disabled needs this, and fast. Another concern that people from the Disability Community have expressed to me, recently, is that they are worried that your government may call an election before the Disability Benefit is fully rolled out. If so they are worried that the next government may decide, no - we are not doing this, and cancel the whole thing. Hopefully this does not happen.
As background I also want you to understand what we are trying to survive on in Nova Scotia without a federal program.
I live in Halifax Nova Scotia where we have a large community of people living in poverty, and many of them have disabilities. I am a strong supporter of the fact that these people need a voice. I have been a writer for some time – I wrote extensively in the NSADVOCATE prior to the death of its publisher, and continue to publish on my blog on a regular basis.
In Nova Scotia, where I live, the only program we have for people with disabilities who cannot work, is the Employment Support and Income Assistance Program offered through our Provincial Department of Community Services. This program provides the standard household rate of $950.00 a month for those who are housed but unemployable. As pointed out in this recent BLOG post many have talents that society does not get an opportunity to see. This is not enough money for anyone to live on. It means nothing is left after rent and bills are paid. Also, I should bring up that according to people in other provinces I am in touch with, they do not get enough money to live on from their provincial Income Assistance systems either.
Thank you very much and l look forward to a response!
Kendall Worth!
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