together, let’s ensure the canada disability benefit remains a national priority
Your contribution is welcome, no matter how small or big.
Your contribution is welcome, no matter how small or big.
The government’s promise did not have many details. They said it would be modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors, which is stacked on top of Old Age Security (OAS).
That means that the Canada Disability Benefit would be stacked on top of the existing benefits people with disabilities currently receive. For example, it would be in addition to provincial and territorial income assistance, CPP – Disability, Veteran’s Disability Benefits, Worker’s Compensation, EI-Sickness, private insurance and other disability support programs.
Three important ones are:
We worked out some basic principles to guide our work:
Our friends at Inclusion Canada have developed an overview of the Canada Disability Benefit along with Design Recommendations. We appreciate their advocacy to secure a Canada Disability Benefit and the important points they raise.
In November 2017, the Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, announced the creation of the Disability Advisory Committee to provide advice to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on interpreting and administering tax measures for persons with disabilities in a fair, transparent and accessible manner. This is their second annual report.
In July 2018, the government appointed an expert panel to study basic income in British Columbia. After two years of research, the expert panel has produced a comprehensive report making 65 recommendations to improve B.C.’s social safety net and recommended against implementing a basic income or conducting a basic income pilot. Beginning on page 399, this report describes a set of proposed policy reforms to improve the current system’s support to people with disabilities.
On 14 December 2017, the Senate adopted an order of reference authorizing the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (the committee) to examine and report on issues relating to social affairs, science and technology generally. Under this order the committee embarked upon a study of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). This is their summary report.
In August 2018, the Government of Canada announced Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Strategy included a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal’s target of reducing poverty by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030. Opportunity for All included the adoption of the Market Basket Measure (MBM) as Canada’s Official Poverty Line and the creation of the National Advisory Council on Poverty (Council) to report on progress made toward the poverty reduction targets. This is the first report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty.
The 2020 Throne Speech announced the federal government’s plan to introduce a new disability income benefit modelled on the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for seniors. The primer scans the income support landscape in Canada, and explores where and how the disability benefit might fit. It asks a series of questions about eligibility, benefit levels, administration and relationship to other income benefits. It provides a vocabulary for policy discussions with family, friends, neighbours, policy makers, elected representatives, and the media about this landmark commitment.
The Alternative Federal Budget, now in its 25th year, is a unique Canadian collaboration rooted in social justice values (like human dignity, freedom, fairness, equality, solidarity, environmental sustainability and the public good); and a strong belief in the power of participatory democracy.
Our site is undergoing continued construction to meet this goal. Thank you for your patience.