December 19th, 2023
Canada Disability Benefit
The legislation was passed in June of 2023 and the regulations are in development with the federal government promising a high level of stakeholder engagement. The Disability Community (led by organizations such as Inclusion Canada and Disability without Poverty) have demanded that the regulations be co-created with people who will access the benefit. The CDB is intended to top-up provincial or territorial benefits such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) with the stated goal of lifting persons with disabilities out of poverty.
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region has written to the government and has met with Federal Members of Parliament, most recently in November when our Board Chair, Devon Fernandes joined me in meeting with Parliamentary Secretary Sameer Zuberi along with staff from the office of the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities as well as local MP Mike Morrice.
Attached is the letter we sent them along with Inclusion Canada’s Pre-budget submission which highlights many important aspects of the legislation and urges the government to fund it in next year’s budget.
How you can help
Reach out to your local Member of Parliament and add your voice. My suggestion would be to align messaging with Inclusion Canada’s document, which is what we sought to do with our letter.
