Bill C-22: Canada Disability Benefit Legislation Update

It was a busy week in Parliament for Bill C-22: the Canada Disability Benefit! There is more work left to be done.

HUMA Committee Meeting with Members of Parliament & Amendments Passed

Last Wednesday, December 7, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) continued its consideration of Bill C-22: the Canada Disability Benefit, by reviewing each clause of the Bill and debating several amendments put forward by the various political parties.

Our position has been to support fast-tracking the Bill through the committee stage as quickly as possible while ensuring the Bill is adequately considered in the legislative process and encourage MPs to work hard to pass the Bill before Parliament rises for Christmas break.

The HUMA Committee has passed several amendments which includes:

1. Incorporating the definition of disability and adopting the same inclusive definition as contained in the Accessible Canada Act
2. Ensuring that any agreements with provinces and territories with respect to the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) are made public
3. Ensuring the CDB is indexed to inflation
4. Ensure the application process is without barriers and fully accessible
5. Guaranteeing that the amount of the benefit is adequate and the method for determining the amount must consider the official poverty line 

We certainly agree with the intent of these amendments and support them. They are helpful but could have also been accomplished through the regulatory process that will follow. As we predicted, these amendments have delayed the passage of the Bill. 

The HUMA Committee is scheduled to meet today, Monday December 12th, and there is still a small chance they could wrap up their deliberations and report back to the House in time for Third Reading and Final vote by end of week.

We Need Your Help! 

There is only one week left in the parliamentary sitting before the holiday break. People with disabilities are counting on our elected officials to do what is necessary to end disability poverty. People with disabilities need some hope. 

We need your help to urge your Member of Parliament to pass Bill C-22 in 2022 so we can create the CDB in 2023. This is a historic opportunity that we cannot miss. What a wonderful holiday gift this would be for people with disabilities in Canada. Let’s make this happen.

We are asking individuals to call or send a letter to their local Members of Parliament for a final push, urging them to prioritize the Bill for passage before Christmas break. We still need to press the importance of this now.

To make this easy, we have prepared a draft letter for you to use and personalize.

How you can help:

• Click here to find your Member of Parliament. 

• Click here to access a draft letter for you to personalize.
• English
• French

• Contact your MP and let them know you are thankful for their support so far. Explain the importance of Bill C-22 and ask for their support to get the Bill passed before the end of the week. Disability poverty cannot afford to wait any longer!