DABC recently submitted our recommendations for Budget 2026 to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. Our submission is below. 

You can also download a copy of our submission here and learn more about the consultation process here: https://consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/40.

Please note that we were only able to submit a maximum of three recommendations. We made additional recommendations in our election priorities document, which was sent to each political party in September 2024. You can see our post about this here and download the document here.

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) is a provincial cross-disability non profit organization and registered 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 Affordable, Accessible Housing.

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 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.

Lastly, people with disabilities who need to access Disability Assistance should feel financially secure without relying on income from their spouse or partner. Relying on spousal income expects that the non-disabled partner is responsible for the disabled partner’s livelihood and well-being. The current PWD system is actively encouraging people on PWD to remain single or make it very difficult to obtain and sustain a relationship. The spousal cap is in direct opposition with a person’s right to independence and equal opportunity, and therefore discriminates against people with disabilities.

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 that was launched ahead of last year’s 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: Build more affordable, accessible housing that includes two, three, and four-bedroom units.

Explanation:

While DABC is heartened to hear of the BC Government’s investments being made to combat the housing crisis in our province, people with disabilities in need of accessible, affordable housing are falling through the cracks.

DABC’s Right Fit program is the only program of its kind in Canada that matches wheelchair users to accessible housing. In our experience detailing the inventory of accessible housing in Metro Vancouver, we have observed a strikingly critical gap of multi-bedroom accessible housing. The vast majority of accessible units that have been built over the past few decades are one-bedroom or studio units. This neglect for multi-bedroom accessible units actively excludes families, particularly newcomer families, in need of accessible housing. There are over 70 families on our waitlist that have waited years for a multi-bedroom accessible unit to become available. Instead, they have no choice but to live in in-accessible housing, which by the Canadian definition, are considered homeless; they are the unseen and unserved component of the homeless population.

DABC calls upon the provincial government to make dedicated commitments to building multi-bedroom accessible units, as well as providing targeted financial support through rental subsidies for low income people with disabilities who have been priced out of the rental housing market. Rental subsidies are crucial to reducing the effect of poverty on people with disabilities who depend upon a scarce supply of accessible, affordable housing.

March 4, 2025

BC Budget 2025: Focused on the economy; no commitment on social services

The BC Budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year was announced at the legislative assembly in Victoria on March 4, 2025. Helaine Boyd, Disability Alliance BC (DABC)’s Executive Director, was invited to attend the announcement and review the budget materials.

As 2024 was an election year, the Provincial Government did not invite civil society to submit their recommendations for the 2025 Budget. Often, our recommendations for the provincial budget stay current year on year, because advocacy to support people with disabilities in our province is a slow-going process.

Our top recommendations for last year’s (2024) BC Budget were:

1. Increase the Disability Assistance Rate (known as PWD) and Index for Inflation
2. Invest in a comprehensive program for assistive devices and medical equipment for people with disabilities
3. Support accessibility retrofits for existing social housing and establish a fund for rental subsidies for low-income people requiring accessible housing.

Unfortunately, none of these recommendations were brought forward into concrete commitments within Budget 2025. The NDP’s election campaign platform outlines the following promises relevant for people with disabilities:

• Improve transit for people with disabilities by bringing BC’s HandyDART service into government, instead of subcontracting the service to a private company
• Offer free transit for seniors in non-peak hours
• Adjust the PWD spousal rule to help lift more people out of poverty.

In the NDP’s response to DABC’s Key Elections Priorities they commit to:

• Invest in training programs that help people with disabilities find jobs
• Implement a new pilot project for EI that will allow people with episodic disabilities to access EI Sickness Benefits with much more flexibility, helping them to maintain employment even when they can’t work periodically.

NDP’s campaign promises relevant for people with disabilities and their response to DABC’s Election Priorities were not reflected in this year’s budget.

Credits and Benefits

There were no new credits announced in the budget this year. However, Budget 2025 does provide a one-time rebate from ICBC to car owners for $110.

Autism Supports

Within this budget, the Province will be providing an “additional $172 million over three years for children and youth with an autism diagnosis and families accessing medical benefits for children with severe disability or complex health-care needs.” However, this is not a new stream of funding; it will maintain previously announced commitments.

This type of funding doesn’t address the growing need for adults with autism who need diagnosis and ongoing support after they have aged out of these benefits. DABC calls upon the Province to look meaningfully at how they can better support covering these services as youth with disabilities transition into adulthood.

Affordable Housing

DABC is heartened to see investments to increasing supports for the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) and the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) Program, in particular by raising the income threshold for the RAP from $40,000 to $60,000. The average supplement families receive will increase from $400 to $700 per month. Budget 2025 increases the SAFER income threshold from $37,240 to $40,000. The average monthly supplement seniors receive will increase from $261 to $337.

While it’s important to celebrate that monthly increases will go into the pockets of low-income families and seniors, DABC calls upon the government to re-assess their income threshold limits for eligibility into these programs. For instance, raising the income threshold by only $2,740 under SAFER provides inadequate financial support for low-income seniors in BC. There are many seniors who may have an income above $40,000, but who struggle to pay rent due to rising costs of living and additional costs associated with aging. The aim of the SAFER program is to promote and support seniors to live independently, and in order to do this, further financial support is required.

Mental Health Supports

The 2025 budget earmarks “$500 million in new funding over three years for addictions treatment and recovery programs that are underway. These include Road to Recovery, Foundry, secure care, supports for children and youth and Indigenous-led treatment, recovery and aftercare services.” DABC has understood that this funding is only to meet increased demand for existing mental health programs rather than funding for new services.

No Increase for Income and Disability Assistance

The Province’s announcement around Income (IA) and Disability Assistance (PWD) was solely to address increased demand for accessing these services, and does not translate into any additional income for people on IA and PWD.

DABC is disappointed to see that the Provincial Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which included considerations for indexing PWD rates to inflation and changing the rules around the spousal cap, was not reflected in this year’s budget. In light of the US tariffs, DABC fears that British Columbians living on disability assistance will continue to see their income spread thin as costs rise. We strongly recommend that the BC Government make good on their poverty reduction strategy and campaign promises to support low-income people with disabilities living on PWD.

Transportation

Budget 2025 mentions funding to support BC Transit and HandyDART in rural areas, but on closer inspection, this does not look to be new funding, rather sustained funding. There is no mention in this year’s budget relating to the NDP’s campaign promises, specifically their commitment to offering free transit for seniors and bringing HandyDART service into government.

Overall Assessment

In our view, Budget 2025 does not align with the BC Government’s aims in their Poverty Reduction Strategy or reflect the rising cost of living that will surely impact low-income people with disabilities. DABC recognizes that, thankfully, there have been no apparent cuts to previously established programs’ supports.

There is no new funding for the disability community in this budget. Budget 2025’s commitment to “standing strong for BC” fails to lend its strength to the disability community. In our view, this budget focused mainly on sustaining previously announced programs and increased demand for these programs due to population growth, and directing funding to protecting BC’s economy in light of the US tariffs, such as supporting businesses and accelerating natural resource projects.

Without any formal consultation available to civil society in the run up to this year’s budget, DABC can only rely upon the commitments the NDP made in their elections campaign platform and the new Poverty Reduction Strategy published last summer. In comparison to this, Budget 2025 fails to enact any of the commitments listed earlier on in our statement.

Within Budget 2025, the Provincial Government has set aside $4 billion in contingency funds, a significant amount of money that could be used to protect British Columbians from the negative impacts of the US tariffs. DABC calls upon the Provincial Government to recognize that the brunt of the impact to US tariffs will hit consumers significantly, particularly those most economically vulnerable, including low-income people with disabilities. Using this contingency, the Provincial Government could still make good on their commitments to index PWD rates to inflation and change the spousal cap, which would surely benefit low-income people with disabilities and their families as we face a rise in daily living costs.

DABC will continue to advocate for changes that will increase dignity, independence, and equal and full participation for people with disabilities in our province.

The Province has adopted The Province the British Columbia Building and Fire Codes (BC Codes 2024).

Key updates will require all new buildings to:

• provide one living space that is designed not to exceed 26 C;
• have power-operated doors in all building entrances and universal washrooms; and
• have an elevator in all large two- and three-storey apartment buildings.

For further information, please read the Province’s press release:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0167-001923

From the press release:

Helaine Boyd, executive director, Disability Alliance BC –

“Disability Alliance BC (DABC) is looking forward to witnessing how these BC Building Code changes will directly impact the lives of people with disabilities in need of accessible housing. We hope that the BC Building Code changes will continue conversations and ultimately contribute to greater social and economic inclusion for people with disabilities in our province.”