NDP statement on new Canadian Disability Benefit

The NDP’s Critic for Disability Inclusion, Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood Transcona), made the following statement:

“Following their announcement of a new Canadian Disability Benefit in the Speech from the Throne, the Liberals’ budget disappointed Canadians living with disabilities by revealing it would be at least three years before the new benefit was developed.

Today’s legislation is a thinly veiled attempt to hide the complete lack of urgency with which Liberals are treating this important issue. Justin Trudeau wants to look like he cares. But he says the right thing with no intention of doing it. And unfortunately, this bill only provides further proof of that.

The legislation contains no detail whatsoever about who will be eligible, how much they will be paid or how it will affect existing federal and provincial disability supports.

This bill reserves the right for the government to develop its own program, without public or parliamentary input. It would also allow future governments to destroy the benefit at the stroke of a pen, without so much as a prior notice to recipients who may depend on the benefit to make rent.

After the many ways that Liberals have played political games around disability issues during the pandemic, including this latest ploy, there is no reason for Canadians living with disabilities to trust the government with this degree of discretion.

Even before the pandemic, people living with disabilities in Canada were legislated into poverty by governments unwilling to provide anywhere near an adequate level of support. They have waited too long and fought too hard to be treated so dismissively.

New Democrats know how vital this kind of support is for people living with disabilities. That’s why we have been calling on the Liberals government to do more for months.

We put forward a disability benefit that would keep Canadians living with disabilities above the poverty line and we - will continue to push the government for real support for Canadians living with disabilities."