64 posts found for disability

Disability Alliance BC Calls on MLA Tara Armstrong to Resign Following Harmful and Misleading Comments About People with Disabilities

July 16, 2026 by DABC

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) unequivocally condemns the public comments made by MLA Tara Armstrong on July 13th, 2026, regarding people receiving Disability Assistance (known as PWD). MLA Armstrong stated that “the government’s welfare law hands out disability payments to drug addicts simply because they use drugs.” This statement is false, misleading, and deeply harmful.

People do not qualify for PWD designation simply because they use substances. Eligibility for PWD is determined through a rigorous and extensive application process that assesses whether an individual has a severe and prolonged disability that significantly restricts their ability to carry out daily living activities.[1] Suggesting otherwise misrepresents the PWD system and fuels harmful myths about people with disabilities.

MLA Armstrong’s comments are dehumanizing towards people living with addiction or substance use and those with co-occurring disabilities. Substance use does not exist in a vacuum; it is often intertwined with mental health, poverty, homelessness, discrimination and systemic barriers in accessing healthcare and other living supports. Many people with disabilities who may also live with addiction experience these realities simultaneously. To reduce their lived experience to a dismissive stereotype is not only inaccurate, it is profoundly offensive.

As the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition states, substance use exists on a spectrum and cannot be understood separately from the social, economic, health, and policy conditions that shape people’s lives.[2] Compassionate, evidence-based approaches recognize the inherent dignity of every person and reject narratives that shame individuals with complex health and social issues.

Through her actions, MLA Armstrong has perpetuated misinformation and stigma towards people with disabilities, which further reinforces an ableist system designed to restrict people with disabilities from accessing employment, housing, healthcare, education, and community participation. Her words embolden others to discriminate against some of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our province and undermine years of work to build a more accessible and inclusive BC.

Equally concerning is MLA Armstrong’s characterization of disability assistance as ‘welfare.’ PWD exists because many people with disabilities face barriers to employment and incur significant disability-related costs to living that others do not. PWD is an essential income support program, not a moral judgment about an individual’s worth or contribution to society. Referring to PWD as ‘welfare’ perpetuates outdated stereotypes that people with disabilities are dependent, undeserving, or somehow less valuable members of our community.

People who experience substance use deserve dignity, respect, and evidence-based public policy, not sensationalist and harmful rhetoric that pits communities against one another for political gain. People with disabilities are not punch lines.

MLA Armstrong’s comments are particularly shocking given her past involvement with her family’s franchise business, Driving Miss Daisy (which is still in operation but has since been sold). The company specializes in providing accompaniment and transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities.

British Columbians expect more from our MLAs. MLAs have a responsibility to engage in public debate honestly, accurately, and respectfully. They should help reduce discrimination, not amplify it. They should rely on evidence, not misinformation. They should use their office to build community, not deepen divisions.

For these reasons, Disability Alliance BC calls on Tara Armstrong to:

  • Publicly retract her misleading statements;
  • Issue a sincere apology to people with disabilities and those affected by substance use; and
  • Resign from the Legislative Assembly if she is unwilling or unable to uphold the standards of respect, and dignity expected of her role.

 

 

[1] Please see the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction’s eligibility for PWD here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/pwd-designation-and-application/designation-application

[2] Please see the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition’s statement on addiction treatment: https://drugpolicy.ca/our-work/addiction-treatment-position-statement/

Update: DABC Executive Director Helaine Boyd was interviewed by CTV News about our response to MLA Armstrong’s comments. Watch the video and read the article.

Read the Summer 2026 edition of Transition Magazine: Sex and Disability!

June 26, 2026 by DABC

Cover for the Summer 2026 edition of Transition magazine, which features two people lying together on a blanket in a field, holding hands and smiling at each other.

The theme of the Summer 2026 edition of Transition magazine is Sex and Disability!

You can download it from our website in PDF format and text only format.

Check out past editions here: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/publications/transition-magazine/

We’re always happy to consider articles or creative work from our community partners and from people living with a disability. If you’d like to send along your ideas or feedback, email: transition@dabc.ca.

DABC Recommendations for BC Budget 2027

June 22, 2026 by DABC

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services holds an annual public consultation on the next provincial budget. DABC recently submitted our recommendations for Budget 2027. Read it below or download it: DABC Recommendations for BC Budget 2027.

Learn more about the consultation process here: https://consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/195.

Please note that we were only able to submit a maximum of three recommendations.

Budget 2027 Consultation

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) is a provincial cross-disability charity, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. The focus of our submission will be on ensuring that the BC Government invest in programs which will improve the financial security of low-income people with disabilities across our province, particularly focused on Disability Assistance, Public Transportation, and Medical Equipment.

Recommendation 1 (300 characters): Indexing Disability Assistance rates to inflation, and removing clawbacks from employment insurance income and spousal income for people on Disability Assistance.

Explanation (2000 characters):

DABC notes the small increase to Disability Assistance made in December 2025 for couples, however overall rates to the support portion of Disability Assistance has not been increased for individuals since 2021. DABC argues that the rate of inflation over the past 5 years has been significant, particularly so for people with disabilities and low income individuals and families. DABC calls upon the BC government to make good on their commitments to poverty reduction as listed on page 34 of the 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy, specifically: “considering the case for indexing rates to inflation”, and “Considering income exemptions that could stack benefits and help people retain more income – Examples could include changing the rules around spousal income or exempting federal benefits like Employment Insurance from income.”

People on PWD deserve to feel financially secure; they should have reassurance that their PWD income will increase if inflation increases; and they should feel secure in knowing they can access their federal right to Employment Insurance (EI) without having their PWD income clawed back.

EI should be treated as a form of earned income, not unearned income, because workers contribute their employment earnings to EI through a deduction in their pay cheque. Everyone who pays EI premiums can rely on EI benefits being there when they need them, including PWD clients, however the difference is that PWD clients “are required to pursue and accept the other income or means of support,” meaning that they must accept EI if they are eligible, but have no recourse to stop their PWD income from being clawed back. We believe this clawback of EI benefits discriminates against PWD clients, which hinders them from escaping the cycle of poverty.

Recommendation 2: Streamlining the provincial bus pass program for people with disabilities to include HandyDART rides:

Explanation:

DABC calls upon the provincial government to make good on a campaign promise within the BC NDP’s action plan from the 2024 election, namely “Improve transit for people with disabilities by bringing BC’s HandyDART service into government, instead of sub contracting the service to a private company.” DABC wishes to see HandyDART brought within government control not only because it will guarantee greater accountability to the public and the disability community on the state of its operations, but will also pave the way for HandyDART to more easily become integrated into the BC bus pass program, which is available to seniors and people on Disability Assistance.

Transport 2050 states that its goal is “a “fairer and more just and inclusive transportation system that truly delivers on the promise of Access for Everyone.” A more inclusive public transportation system would involve bringing HandyDART into the BC bus pass program so that low income people with disabilities who are unable to navigate conventional public transit would be able to access this much-needed service. Currently, people on Disability Assistance have to pay out of pocket for HandyDART, which we believe is a form of financial exclusion.

Recommendation 3: Establish an Assistive Devices Program in BC

Explanation:

In BC, most financial coverage available for adults for assistive devices is available for people on Disability Assistance only. Aside from Disability Assistance coverage, some people also may qualify for assistive devices through WorkBC if they can establish a work-related barrier due to a disability; however, this still excludes many people with disabilities.

People with disabilities who do not qualify for these two options above are left to purchase expensive medical equipment on their own or to seek out help from non-profits and charities. This creates an inconsistent system of care for people with disabilities in our country, as both Alberta and Ontario have programs that provide this coverage. The Province of Ontario has the Assistive Devices Program, and the Province of Alberta has the Aids to Daily Living Program.

DABC recommends that the BC government follow the lead of other provinces in establishing this support program that is offered to people with disabilities beyond those who receive Disability Assistance. An immediate first step would be to extend eligibility to low income seniors and to people who solely receive CPP-D.