A step-by-step guide to telling the federal government that Budget 2026 must end disability poverty
Deadline: September 8, 2026
Why this matters
The Department of Finance is asking Canadians what Budget 2026 should prioritize. The questionnaire takes about 5-10 minutes, and every response is counted. When thousands of people with disabilities, families, and allies name disability poverty as a priority, it becomes harder to ignore.
Visit the 2026 Pre-Budget Consultations page to take the questionnaire.
You can also make a formal submission – see the note at the end of this guide.
Before you start
- This is your survey. Answer every question honestly, based on your own life. The suggestions below simply point out where disability priorities fit – choose them only where they are true for you.
- Most questions let you select up to 3 answers. Use all three selections where you can.
- “Other” fields are your friend. Wherever a question has an “Other” option, you can type a disability-related answer in your own words.
Question-by-question suggestions
Q1. What are the biggest financial concerns for you or your family?
Choose the three that are most true for you. Options many people with disabilities select:
- Housing costs
- The cost of food
- Prescription drug costs
- Dental care costs
- Paying all your bills at the end of the month
Or use “Other” to say it directly: “The extra costs of living with a disability – devices, therapies, accessible housing and transportation.”
Q2. How can the government build a strong economy today and for the future?
There is no disability option here. If none of the listed answers speak to you, choose “Other” and write something like: “Invest in disability inclusion – an adequate Canada Disability Benefit and accessible workplaces bring hundreds of thousands of people into the economy.”
Q3. What actions are most important to help Canadians get ahead?
These options align closely with disability priorities:
- Bring down costs for Canadians for everyday essentials
- Ensure Canadians can afford the medications they need
- Improve access to health services, including mental and dental health
- Work to end systemic racism, tackle gender inequalities, support 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians and address root causes of discrimination in Canada
Or select “Other” and write: “Raise the Canada Disability Benefit to a level that ends disability poverty.”
Q4. How can the Government of Canada set younger Canadians up for success?
Answer as you see fit. If you want to keep a disability lens, use “Other”: “Make education, training and employment programs accessible to young people with disabilities.”
Q5 – Q8. Competition, referendums, skilled trades, Canada Strong Fund
These questions have no direct disability angle – answer them according to your own views. For the skilled trades question (Q7), you might consider whether the programs listed are accessible to workers with disabilities.
Q9. What are your top priorities to help make communities stronger and safer?
Options that align with disability and inclusion priorities:
- Extend support for people experiencing homelessness and ensure survivors of gender-based violence have access to safe, stable housing
- Investing in Indigenous communities by providing funds for essential services
- Strengthen enforcement to address hate motivated crimes and protect targeted communities
Q10. Where should the government focus to make housing more accessible?
- Expanding support for people experiencing homelessness and access to safe housing
And consider using “Other” to add: “Require that new federally funded housing be accessible and affordable for people with disabilities.”
Q11. If you were designing the federal budget, what would you suggest to help grow Canada's economy? (400 characters — the most important box in the survey)
This is the one place you can say anything you want. Write in your own words, or adapt one of these (each fits the 400-character limit):
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“End disability poverty in Budget 2026: raise the Canada Disability Benefit so it actually meets basic needs, and fix the Disability Tax Credit – broaden the definition of disability, grant automatic eligibility to people on provincial disability programs, pay practitioners directly for completing forms, and stop making people with lifelong disabilities reapply.”
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“People with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty. A $200/month Canada Disability Benefit won't change that. Budget 2026 should set a time-bound plan to raise the CDB to an adequate level and make the Disability Tax Credit automatic for anyone already on provincial disability assistance. Inclusion grows the economy.”
- “Only 14.6% of people with disabilities receive the Disability Tax Credit – the gateway to 17 federal programs including the Canada Disability Benefit. Fix the gateway: broader definition, automatic eligibility, a plain-language form, and direct reimbursement of practitioners. Then raise the CDB so it ends disability poverty.”
Q12+. About you (province, age, gender, identity, capacity, income)
Answer honestly. Two that matter especially:
- “Do you identify as any of the following?” — if you are a person with a disability, select “Person with a disability.” This is how the government knows our community showed up.
- “In what capacity are you completing this survey?” — most supporters will select “As an individual.” If you are answering for your organization, select “As a representative of a non-profit or charity.”
Want to do more?
- Make a formal submission too. The same consultation accepts written submissions until September 8, 2026.
- You are welcome to adapt Disability Without Poverty's Budget 2026 submission, available on our website, for your own organization.
- Share this guide with your networks – every voice counts.
Questions? Contact Disability Without Poverty at hello@disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca