Government proposes legislation extending the temporary exclusion of eligibility for MAiD on the sole basis of mental illness
A bill has been introduced in the House of Commons to introduce legislation that would delay the expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (#MAID) ‘s eligibility requirements—particularly for people with mental illness as their only underlying condition— to March 2024. Read the government’s press release here.
We empathize that for people with mental illness who have been wanting to apply for MAID, the possible passing of this bill will come as a huge disappointment. We feel for those who are not currently able to apply for MAiD but wish to do so. We also strongly advocate for comprehensive and holistic supports and safeguards that can provide greater access to necessary treatments and access to services that reduce poverty and increase quality of life. No one should feel that their only choice is MAiD due to poor societal conditions alone.
If this bill is passed, we hope that over the course of the next year, actionable work on clarifying eligibility criteria can be informed by the input of those most impacted.
MSDPR Retroactive Payments
If you were a client of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction between October 2012 and April 2018 and had your assistance amount reduced as a result of earnings you reported, you may be eligible for retroactive payments from the Ministry. This is only if you are no longer a Ministry client but were during the time period listed above; individuals who fit the criteria and are still Ministry clients will have already received these retroactive payments.
If you think you or someone you know may be eligible for retroactive payments, please do not contact DABC – please contact the Ministry directly at 1-866-866-0800.
Province announces additional funding for accessible taxis
The B.C. government has announced that additional funding has been allocated to launch its Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program: https://globalnews.ca/news/9452049/b-c-funding-program-accessible-taxis/
DABC is pleased to see that additional funding will support increasing the amount of accessible taxis available, and we certainly hope that the owners/operators of these taxis will receive comprehensive and meaningful accessibility training.
However, we also recognize that this new initiative may not address another important issue facing people with disabilities using taxis: there are still too many incidents of taxi drivers choosing not to pick up riders who use wheelchairs/mobility aids, or refusing to accept taxi-savers for individuals that can’t be picked up by HandyDART.
