Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion of Canada Carla Qualtrough announced on Tuesday, she introduced legislation to create “The Canada Disability Benefit.”
The legislation would enable the Government of Canada to take a proactive approach in the creation and delivery of the new benefit, to support working-age Canadians with disabilities. The Canada Disability Benefit would supplement, not replace, existing federal and provincial-territorial supports with a goal of lifting hundreds of thousands of persons with disabilities out of poverty.
In the spirit of “Nothing Without Us”, the Government of Canada will build on the legislation introduced today to engage with stakeholders and persons with disabilities to have their voices heard on the design of the benefit leading up to the development of regulations. This engagement has already started with the recent launch of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, a public survey that asks Canadians how the Government of Canada can build a barrier-free country. Engagement activities will continue through the summer and fall.
The legislation also recognizes the leading role that provinces and territories play in providing supports and services to Canadians with disabilities and the importance of engaging with them in developing income and other supports. Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for Social Services and Disability intend to meet this summer for an initial discussion on the proposed new benefit.
The Government of Canada in the 2020 Speech from the Throne to develop the first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). This plan will include:
- a new Canada Disability Benefit
- a robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities;
- and a better process to determine eligibility for federal disability programs and benefits.
The new Canada Disability Benefit is the cornerstone of this plan.
