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It’s about damn time.
Over 40% of Canadians who live in poverty are disabled. Let that sink in. Disabled Canadians are the largest minority group in Canada, representing 22% of the Canadian population yet they make up almost half of the number of Canadians living in poverty.
On June 22nd, 2021, the Government of Canada tabled a bill, Bill C-35, aimed at reducing poverty and supporting the financial security of disabled people by providing the Canada Disability Benefit. Though the legislation is only in it’s second reading and no dollar amount has been set, we have hope that the government will move quickly on this and ensure that disabled Canadians start receiving this benefit as soon as possible.
Built into the legislation is the commitment to engage the disabled community to determine how to create the Benefit. It is also to be modeled on the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors, which is distributed alongside Old Age Security. This would mean that accessing current federal and provincial supports for disabled people, such as the Canadian Pension Plan disability benefit, will not impact eligibility and distribution.
I would prefer to see Universal Basic Income but the Canada Disability Benefit is a massive step in the right direction towards income equality in Canada.
For more information, visit Disability Without Poverty.
