This article was written by Michael J. Prince.  It originally appeared in the edition of DABC’s Transition magazine, Canada Disability Benefit: What protection does it actually offer? (Fall/Winter 2024).

Read the full edition in PDF format here and in text-only format here.

If you’re interested in contributing to Transition as an individual or an organization, please email transition@dabc.ca.

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A few days after the April 2024 federal government budget outlined key details about the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), I contacted the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, and gave formal notice of my resignation from the Minister’s Disability Advisory Group effective immediately.

The Trudeau government’s decisions around the Canada Disability Benefit announced in the federal budget triggered my resignation.

The budget fails to heed the long-declared recommendations by national disability organizations and other groups for a properly-funded benefit, one that recognizes the additional costs of living for people with disabilities.

The benefit, although depicted as a key pillar in the government’s plan to provide direct support to those who need it most, does not adequately address the serious needs of more than one million adults living with disabilities across the country, many of whom live in poverty.

I initially thought the benefit amount of $200 was a misprint. The benefit is too low and too few people in need are covered. It is complicated to access, lacks collaboration, and waits too long to meaningfully reduce poverty.

In 2020, the federal government described the CDB as modeled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors aged sixty-five and older.

In 2024, the maximum benefit amount of the GIS is $12,785 annually. For the CDB, the proposed maximum benefit amount is $2,400 per year for low-income people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. The proposed maximum annual payment for the CDB equates to about two months of the support for low-income seniors.

A Retreat from Real Poverty Reduction

The government estimates that more than 600,000 low-income people with disabilities may qualify for the CDB. However, Employment and Social Development Canada later revealed the CDB might, at most, lift only 25,000 recipients out of financial poverty.

These numbers for coverage and poverty reduction fall well short of the estimated 1.2 million people with disabilities across Canada living in poverty. In contrast to previous statements about the intended effects of the CDB, it simply may not bring significant poverty-reduction effects.

So Much for “Nothing About Us, Without Us”

The budget included a statement that, in the spirit of “nothing about us without us”, the government would provide meaningful opportunities for people living with disability to collaborate.

However, not on everything. Whatever the eventual design of the program, the budget adds the fundamental constraint that “the design will need to fit the investment proposed in Budget 2024.”

This fiscal condition, set down by the Minister of Finance, means that the issues of benefit adequacy, effectiveness as a poverty-reduction policy and the coverage of the program are not truly up for discussion.

In the words of this budget, the federal government “aspires to see” that, one day, the combined amount of federal and provincial or territorial income supports for people with disabilities grow to the level of Old Age Security and the GIS to tackle disability poverty.

Significant Investments are Required

The history of social policy in Canada teaches us that major reform in income support often comes from federal leadership in investments and program reform. It has long been apparent that not all provinces and none of the territories have the financial capacity to tackle disability poverty in a fundamental and sustainable way.

Out of sync with public opinion and community needs, this budget announcement fails to take strong federal responsibility for income security for working-age adults with disabilities who are working hard to join the middle class.

I concluded my voice was no longer making a difference on this advisory group and that by remaining, people would assume I supported this benefit design. So I resigned.

However, I continue to work with self-advocates and community allies in other ways and places.

Michael J. Prince is Lansdowne Professor of Social Policy at the University of Victoria. From 2018 to 2024, he was Board Chair of Community Living BC. He was also a member of the federal Ministerial Disability Advisory Group from April 2020 to April 2024.

In June, the federal government published their proposed regulation for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). The CDB will likely provide a maximum of $2,400 per year–$200 per month–to eligible Canadians with disabilities. Eligibility will also be limited to people who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Applications to the CDB are slated to open in Spring 2025.

Consultations on the proposed regulation are currently underway. DABC has been working on our in-depth review of the proposed regulation, which we hope to share with our networks very soon. This review will also be sent to the federal government as part of the consultation process.

 In addition to this advocacy work, we are also planning to discuss the topic of the Canada Disability Benefit in our next issue of the Transition magazine, and we want to hear from you!

What do you want to tell government to consider in their future deliberations around the CDB process or the benefit amount? Please send your short response of up to three sentences to transition@dabc.ca by September 12th for our upcoming edition on the CDB. We can publish your comments anonymously or with your name(s),  whichever you choose.

This article was written by Bounmy Inthavong, a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. It originally appeared in the edition of DABC’s Transition magazine, Welcome to BC: Challenges and Supports for Newcomers with Disabilities (Spring 2024).

Read the full edition in PDF format here and in text-only format here.

If you’re interested in contributing to Transition as an individual or an organization, please email transition@dabc.ca.
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When I envision Canada, I see a vibrant canvas with tales of fresh beginnings. Embedded within these narratives are the intricate stories of newcomers navigating the pathways of immigration, intertwined with journeys of race and disability.

It’s a tapestry woven with hues of resilience amidst adversity, where profound experiences often dwell in the margins—the struggles of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities intersecting with the complex challenges of disability. Together, these stories paint a poignant picture, shining a light on the multifaceted realities newcomers face upon their arrival in Canada.

Canada’s history, marked by colonization, enslavement, racial discrimination and exclusionary immigration policies, casts a shadow on the experiences of these communities.

From the erasure of Indigenous sovereignty to systemic racism within the immigration system, past injustices echo in the lived experiences of newcomers grappling with disabilities. These experiences call for urgent change—a transformation of policies, perspectives and a commitment to breaking down barriers.

Within this landscape, Race and Disability Canada has undertaken an ambitious review to unravel the intricacies of these intersections, spotlight stories and emphasize the urgent need for systemic changes. Our review is based on an IDEA. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) Project encompasses:

• Intersectional Analysis: Understanding the unique experiences of racialized people with disabilities, including newcomers facing barriers due to their race and disability.
• Data Collection: Delving into literature, and gathering survey and focus group data to comprehend:
  • Challenges faced by racialized people with disabilities.
  • Barriers encountered by advocates and organizations working on race, disability, and inclusion in the non-profit sector.
  • Efforts of mainstream disability organizations to achieve diversity and inclusion goals concerning race and disability, and how we can support them.

Our work goes beyond raising awareness. It’s a call to action. It’s about reshaping policies and amplifying narratives. It’s about advocating for systemic changes that acknowledge the multifaceted challenges faced by newcomers at the intersections of race and disability.

Canada’s promise of inclusivity and diversity beckons, but it necessitates collective effort—crafting policies to dismantle systemic barriers, and fostering a culture of understanding, support and equity for newcomers with disabilities.

These stories, woven with hardship, speak of resilience and determination. They urge us to build a Canada where every newcomer, regardless of race or disability, finds genuine support, recognition and a true sense of belonging—a Canada where every story contributes to the vibrant narrative of the nation’s identity.

The results will catalyze further research, community-based projects and collaborations beyond the disability sector to advance accessibility and inclusion for racialized people with disabilities. As part of our commitment to change, we’re actively involved in:

• Empowering Non-Profits: Developing communities of practice in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. These forums allow organizations to unlearn and relearn, implementing sustainable systemic changes that include racialized people with disabilities in their policies and services.
• Education and Training: Leveraging outcomes from research and communities of practice to develop training programs and educational initiatives supporting broader accessibility and inclusion goals for racialized people with disabilities in Canada.

Readers can join our newsletter to stay updated with the latest developments at Race and Disability Canada. Visit www.racedisability.ca to subscribe and stay informed.

Bounmy Inthavong is a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. Follow Race and Disability Canada:

Instagram @racedisabilityca
Facebook @RaceandDisability
X @Race_Disability.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability Component (SDPP-D).