Posted by 2021 Federal Elections: Political Parties’ promises to the disability community
Facts about People with disabilities in Canada
- About 22% of the Canadian population aged 15 years and over has one or more disabilities and 91% of this population are aged 25 years and over
- Around 1.5 million persons with disabilities aged 15 years and over cannot afford personal aids and devices such as canes, walkers, specialized software, or architectural features in the home such as widened doorways and ramps (page 21).
- 73% of Canadians with disabilities have experienced various transportation, communication, and technological barriers. Examples include self-serve technology, online services, and video conferencing[1].
- Three in five (59%) persons with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years were employed compared to four in five (80%) of those without disabilities.
- Over 772,000 Canadian employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years requires at least a workplace modification[2]
As the 2021 elections draw closer, we take a look at the commitments of the various political parties for people with disabilities. Take note, the commitments listed here are not exhaustive.
The New Democratic Party (NDP)
- Boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement for all seniors
- Expand income security programs to ensure Canadians living with a disability have a guaranteed livable income
- Hire more disability adjudicators
- Create a flexible EI to accommodate workers with episodic illnesses and disabilities
- Bring in mental health care for uninsured Canadians
- Extend sickness benefits to 50 weeks of coverage
- Restore door-to-door mail delivery
- Create affordable, accessible housing in communities across the country
- Work with Autistic Canadians to develop and implement a national Autism strategy
The Liberal Party of Canada
- Hire 50,000 psws and raise their wages to $25 an hour.
- Publicly accessible mental health care.
- Re-introduce and implement the Canada Disability Benefit Act, which will create a direct monthly payment for low-income Canadians with disabilities ages 18-64.
- Develop and implement an employment strategy focused on building business disability confidence
- Fund support services like accessibility formats to ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities
- Implement the Accessible Canada Act
- Reduce the retirement age to 65 from 67
- Increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $500 for single seniors and $750 for senior couples
Conservative Party of Canada
- Double the disability supplement from $713 to $1,500
- Increase sickness benefits to 52 weeks
- Invest $325 million over the next three years to create residential drug treatment beds
- Create the enabling accessibility fund value at $80 million a year
- Build 50 recovery community centres across the country.
- Revise the federal government’s substance abuse policy framework
- Implementing the Lifelong Disability Benefit for moderately to severely injured veterans
- Reduce the number of hours required to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan from 14 to 10 hours per week
The Green Party of Canada
- Increase access to housing for people with disabilities
- Create a comprehensive and equitable Guaranteed Livable Income for every person in Canada
- Support a national equipment fund to provide equipment
- Enforce the Employment Equity Act
- Convert the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to a refundable credit
- Redesign the Canada Pension Plan/Disability Benefit (CPP/D) test
The People’s Party
They have not outlined specific disability focus commitments but their platform mention support for veterans. Such support include;
- Legislate a Military Covenant between the government and those who serve in the Armed Forces
- Reinstate the fair disability pension
- Review the New Veterans Charter (including the Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act of 2011)
[1] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2021001-eng.htm
[2] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2019001-eng.htm
Disability Pride Alberta Foundation is led by people with disabilities to empower people with disabilities through connection, celebration and education.
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Thanks to David A. for the research and information!