e-4777 (Social affairs and equality)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• People with disabilities often face barriers to employment along with higher costs associated with health care and housing;
• The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) was delayed for over two years as the first attempt to pass the law establishing the benefit, known as Bill C-35, was postponed due to the 2021 election;
• The CDB will provide much-needed financial support for people with disabilities, many of whom live in poverty;
• The minister responsible has told Canadians that implementing the CDB is expected to take a minimum of 18 months following Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, achieving Royal Assent on June 22, 2023;
• Insufficient supports on current disability programs federally and provincially present a significant risk to life and health for people with disabilities across the country living in legislated poverty;
• The federal government has refused to provide people with disabilities with an interim Disability Emergency Response Benefit; and
• The government has yet to bring the CDB into force which is not starting the 12-month regulation time clock, which is delaying delivering the CDB.