73 MPs have signed an open letter calling for the fast-tracking of the Canada Disability Benefit
BC Disability
April 12, 2022
73 Members of Parliament signed a joint open letter urging the government to immediately re-introduce the Canada Disability Benefit Act.
The letter reads as follows:
Re: Canada Disability Benefit
Dear Prime Minister, Government House Leader, and Ministers:
We write in support of the immediate re-introduction of the Canada Disability Benefit Act in order to reduce poverty and support the financial security of persons with disabilities.
We also call on the government to ensure that people with disabilities are meaningfully involved in the creation and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit, and to work with provincial and territorial governments to ensure that the benefit complements provincial and territorial programs.
One in five people in Canada has a disability and over one million Canadians with disabilities live in poverty. People with disabilities in Canada have a higher rate of unemployment and people with severe disabilities earn less than $13,000 per year on average.
People with disabilities face many direct and indirect costs from having a disability, including medical expenses, specialized equipment, accessible housing, and reduced earnings. COVID-19 has only exacerbated these inequalities.
The Canada Disability Benefit is an important step in removing the barriers that people with disabilities face in Canada, and it must be part of a comprehensive government approach that includes creating good quality jobs and disability-inclusive spaces.
It is critical that we move forward more quickly to support people with disabilities and, as
parliamentarians representing different parties, we are ready to work alongside you to ensure that we build a truly inclusive Canada.
Sincerely,
The following Members of Parliament:
Louise Chabot, députée, on behalf of all members of the Bloc Québécois caucus
Conservative Members of Parliament :
MP Scott Aitchison
MP Marilyn Gladu
Green Members of Parliament :
MP Elizabeth May
MP Mike Morrice
Liberal Members of Parliament :
MP John Aldag
MP Shafqat Ali
MP Gary Anandasangaree
MP René Arseneault
MP Sean Casey
MP Paul Chiang
MP Emmanuel Dubourg
MP Julie Dzerowicz
MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
MP Darren Fisher
MP Marc Garneau
MP Lisa Hepfner
MP Majid Jowhari
MP Adam van Koeverden
MP Annie Koutrakis
MP Marie-France Lalonde
MP Emmanuella Lambropoulos
MP Viviane Lapointe
MP Tim Louis
MP Bryan May
MP Ken McDonald
MP Ron McKinnon
MP Alexandra Mendes
MP Yasir Naqvi
MP Jennifer O’Connell
MP Marcus Powlowski
MP Brenda Shanahan
MP Leah Taylor Roy
MP Joanne Thompson
MP Ryan Turnbull
MP Tony Van Bynen
MP Rechie Valdez
MP Arif Virani
MP Patrick Weiler
MP Jean Yip
Independent Member of Parliament:
MP Kevin Vuong
Spencer van Vloten is the editor of BC Disability. To get in touch, send an email to spencer@bcdisability.com!
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