For Immediate Release

April 7, 2022

Disability Without Poverty Reacts to Federal Budget

(Toronto) – Disability Without Poverty is disappointed-but not surprised-there was no reference to the Canada Disability Benefit in the federal budget today.

Disability Without Poverty is a grassroots movement of people with disabilities, their families and organizations across Canada advocating for the Canada Disability Benefit. Specifically, they want to see:

• The Canada Disability Benefit fast-tracked with no delays in getting money to Canadians with disabilities living in poverty
• Inclusion of people with disabilities every step of the way, from design to implementation of the Benefit
• Creation of a Disability Poverty Line that recognizes the additional costs of disability
• No clawbacks to provincial disability assistance, whether services or financial aid

“The government must show their commitment to the Canada Disability Benefit given the promised made to Canadians with disabilities in the September 2020 Throne speech. It’s time to table the bill now,” states Rabia Khedr, National Director of Disability Without Poverty.

“We know that Canadians with disabilities living in poverty feel disappointed today. They feel forgotten again. We continue to ask ‘where’s the bill?’ ”, says Michelle Hewitt, national co-chair of Disability Without Poverty.