Researchers with the Pandemics and Borders Project (Simon Fraser University) and the Border Policy Research Institute (Western Washington University) are conducting a survey to better understand the impact of public health measures applied to travel between Canada and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 2020 and May 2023. They are, in particular, interested in the experiences and perceptions of equity-deserving communities including people with disabilities. 

They are studying the impacts of four types of travel measures: travel restrictions (to control who is and who is not allowed to travel), testing requirements, quarantine (to separate infected or potentially infected travellers), and vaccination (to limit travel by unvaccinated individuals). Their research will support policy-making about the effective use of cross-border measures during pandemics.

You can participate by filling out a survey, which is available here: https://pilotsurveysfu.limesurvey.net/855841?lang=en. To be eligible to complete the survey, those interested must be 18 years or older and have resided in the US or Canada between March 2020 and May 2023.

More information about the research project can be found here: https://www.pandemics-borders.org/projects/equity-canada-us-border-measures

The survey is confidential and will take approximately 15 minutes. All participants can enter a draw to win one of 100 $25 gift cards.

DABC’s response to the information linked below:

• https://twitter.com/TheTyee/status/1765800078139437193
• https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/03/07/BC-Leaves-Door-Open-Claw-Back-Federal-Disability-Benefits/

Since the Tyee article linked above came out yesterday, DABC has seen reactions from members of the disability community on social media channels. Secure and stable income is vitally important to everyone, but especially so for low income people with disabilities that rely on disability assistance. For years now, the disability community has been waiting for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), to seek clarity on what the Benefit will look like and how it will be rolled out. We are still waiting.  

So, when an article such as this comes out questioning whether the BC Government will claw back PWD income from the CDB, it rightly strikes a strong reaction of fear and anger for those who depend on PWD income for their livelihood and well-being.

Yesterday, DABC and other advocacy groups met with Minister Malcolmson during a luncheon organized by Disability Without Poverty BC. DABC and others had an opportunity to question Minister Malcolmson on the Tyee article. Minister Malcolmson said to us that she felt her interview with the Tyee was taken out of context and that the BC Government can’t officially declare a decision on the treatment of CDB income until the Federal Government shares with the provinces what the CDB will look like. Additionally, she said that the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR)’s approach to the treatment of CDB income will likely be in the same spirit to how SDPR treated income from the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (it did not claw back PWD income).

DABC also heard from Minister Malcolmson in 2023, when she stated verbally during a community stakeholder meeting that the Province does not intend to claw back CDB payments from PWD income. DABC will continue to hold Minister Malcomson and the BC Government to account on this, to ensure that when the Canada Disability Benefit is rolled out into the bank accounts of people with disabilities, it does not claw back PWD income.

We also call upon the BC Government to take a more active role on the federal level in being kept up to date on new developments around the design and implementation of the CDB. There are approximately 200,000 people in our province on PWD, and they deserve a Ministry that is proactive, transparent and communicative on this incredibly important issue that has a great potential to increase their income and overall quality of life.

A Research Assistant for the HEART Lab (Health Experiences and Arts-Based Research Team) at Toronto Metropolitan University under the supervision of Dr. Fiona Moola, has reached out to DABC about a study in the HEART lab that is exploring the experiences of racialized children/youth with disabilities and their families in the Canadian healthcare system. The study is also exploring the experiences of healthcare workers and health policy makers who have knowledge or an understanding of working with these families.

If you are interested in participating in the study or have questions, please reach out to the study’s research coordinator Alyssa Neville at alyssa.neville@torontomu.ca.

To participate in the study, you must be:

• 12-24 years of age, living in Canada and self-identify as 1) racialized, Black, Indigenous, person of colour (BIPOC), and/or visible minority and 2) have a disability/ies
  OR
• A parent, guardian, or caregiver of a child or youth with a disability who self-identifies as racialized, Black, Indigenous, person of colour, (BIPOC), and/or visible minority

More information: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Child-parent.pdf

The HEART lab is also seeking participants who are Healthcare workers or health policy makers who have experience working with or on health policy topics related to parents/caregivers and children/youth who are racialized or Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour (BIPOC) with a disability/ie. You may be eligible to participate if you are:

• A designated healthcare professional (e.g., nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, social worker, occupational or physical therapist, etc.) working in Canada who has experience working with racialized or BIPOC children/youth with disabilities in a pediatric healthcare setting
  OR
• A health policy maker working in Canada who has experience working in pediatric health policy within the Canadian healthcare system and knowledge on racialized children/youth with disabilities

More information: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/healthcare.pdf

All participants who choose to participate will receive a $50 gift card to compensate them for their time, however, participation is completely voluntary.