Gordon Neighbourhood House (GNH) in the West End of Vancouver uses food to nourish the community in a variety of ways, including the facilitation of intercultural exchange and dialogue, community capacity-building, and community development. GNH’s food philosophy is why DABC is partnering with them. Our goal is to get people with disabilities involved in food issues in the West End and to help improve their food access and security.

Principles:

1. An understanding that food brings us together and can act as a vehicle for community-building.
2. A recognition that all members of our community have a Right to Food based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while also acknowledging that we as a community enjoy various levels of access to food.
3. A commitment to sharing fresh, non-expired, healthy, and locally-sourced food whenever possible.
4. A commitment to sharing food that is nutrient-dense, low in refined sugar and sodium, and not overly-processed.
5. A commitment to working toward increased access to food for those who are nutritionally vulnerable.
6. A commitment to providing opportunities for increased food literacy and community capacity-building for our neighbours.
7. A commitment to sharing foods that reflect the diversity of our community, city, country and world.
8. An awareness of the impact that our food choices have on the environment.
9. A commitment to the reduction of our organizational ecological footprint by minimizing packaging and ongoing composting.
10. Support for the development of urban farms and healthy food cooperatives.

http://gordonhouse.org/about-gordon-neighbourhood-house/right-to-food/

December 2015

Dear Community Partner,

The Canada Revenue Agency has changed the layout of the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) application. Some of the notable changes are as follows:

1. The application package has been shortened from 12 pages to 6 pages.

2. The revised application now allows applicants to request an automatic adjustment of their prior tax returns if they qualify for the DTC.

3. Sections of the doctor’s portion of the application have been shortened and simplified. For example, in the sections titled speaking, hearing, walking, eliminating, feeding, dressing, and mental functions necessary for everyday life the doctor is no longer asked to explicitly indicate whether their patient’s restrictions are present all or substantially all of the time. This change only simplifies the application and does not remove the requirement that applicants need to show they are restricted all or substantially all of the time in one of these areas.

4. More space is provided in the effects of impairment section for doctors to explain how a person’s disability affects his or her life.

We hope that these new changes will make it easier for people with disabilities to apply for and access the benefits of the DTC.

If you want to apply for the DTC you can download and print the application from the Canada Revenue Agency website or request a copy of the application by calling 1-800-959-8281. Disability Alliance BC has more information about the DTC and the related Registered Disability Savings Plan in Help Sheet 14 of our Help Sheet series.

We hope this helps you to help your clients. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Sam Turcott at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278.

The Ministry of Justice has made an announcement about the Guide and Service Dog Act, coming into effect on January 18, 2016.

Please click on the link below for the Ministry’s news release and more information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2015JAG0296-002012