For Immediate Release

February 2, 2023

Disability Without Poverty remains hopeful about Bill C-22

(Toronto) –Disabled Canadians hold guarded optimism that Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit, will continue to make steady progress as it enters the Senate.

Today is an historic day in the path of achieving Royal Assent for Bill C-22. We applaud the efforts of all MPs in the House of Commons for expeditiously passing Third Reading for the Canada Disability Benefit.

We appeal to the Senate of Canada to do its democratic duty in fast tracking the Canada Disability Benefit within its responsibility of sober second thought About a year ago, 43 Senators pledged their approval of the Canada Disability Benefit in an Open Letter, and we count on more Senators to come on board in the coming days and weeks to ensure swift passage of the bill through the Upper Chamber.

Time is of the essence. “Today is a day for celebration but the work is not done. People with disabilities who live in poverty cannot wait any longer”, Michelle Hewitt, Co-Chair of DWP states.

Rabia Khedr, National Director of DWP, is concerned that “If we wait for this legislative process to determine all of the details of a perfect benefit, its arrival will be too late for many. Urgent funds need to flow to people with disabilities living in poverty as quickly as possible in 2023.” At Disability Without Poverty, we are committed to working with federal and provincial governments to fast track an inclusive design process and we were encouraged yesterday to hear yet again the commitment in Bill C-22 to “nothing about us without us”.