AODA Alliance Asks Federal Disabilities Minister for Important Information About the Proposed Canada Disability Benefit in Advance of the Senate’s Public Hearings on Bill C-22

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update

United for a Barrier-Free Society for All People with Disabilities

 

Web: www.aodaalliance.org

Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com

Twitter: @aodaalliance

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

 

AODA Alliance Asks Federal Disabilities Minister for Important Information About the Proposed Canada Disability Benefit in Advance of the Senate’s Public Hearings on Bill C-22

 

March 15, 2023

 

SUMMARY

 

Next week, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Social Affairs (SOCI) is expected to begin its public hearings on Bill C-22, the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act. For disability organizations like the AODA Alliance to be able to fully participate in these hearings, we need information from the Federal Government on the Canada Disability Benefit.

 

We have therefore written Federal Disabilities Minister Carla Qualtrough, asking for important information that should help all disability organizations presenting at the hearings, and all senators who will vote on the bill. We set that letter out below. We will let you know what response we receive from Minister Qualtrough.

 

Watch AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky’s November 14, 2022 testimony at the House of Commons HUMA Committee to learn what is wrong with Bill C-22 and how to fix it.

 

Tell the Senate to strengthen Bill C-22. Check out the AODA Alliance’s Bill C-22 Action Kit. It gives you everything you need!

 

See proof beyond any doubt that the Trudeau Liberals flip flop on whether Bill C-22 needs amendments. Our captioned 7-minute video reveals this. It has been seen over 3,000 times. Watch it and get others to do the same!

 

Learn all about our campaign to get Bill C-22 strengthened, by visiting the AODA Alliance website’s Bill C-22 page.

 

MORE DETAILS

 

Text of the March 14, 2023 Letter from the AODA Alliance to Federal Disabilities Minister Carla Qualtrough

 

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance

 

United for a Barrier-Free Society for All People with Disabilities

 

Web: www.aodaalliance.org

Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com

Twitter: @aodaalliance

Facebook: www.facebook.com/aodaalliance/

 

March 14, 2022

 

To: The Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion of Canada

 

Via email: Carla.Qualtrough@parl.gc.ca

 

140 Promenade du Portage

Gatineau, QC

K1A 0J9

 

Dear Minister,

 

Re: Bill C-22 the Canada Disability Benefit Act

 

Next week, Bill C-22, the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act, begins hearings at the Senate’s Standing Committee on Social Affairs (SOCI). It is very good that the Federal Government pledged to fully include the disability community every step of the way in the development of the Canada Disability Benefit. To that end, could you assist the disability community’s effective participation in the Senate public hearings?

 

It would be a great help for all disability organizations and groups appearing at those hearings, as well as senators studying the bill, if you could provide up-to-date, detailed information about the status of the Government’s work developing the Canada Disability Benefit.

 

In the spirit of “Nothing about us without us,” the information we need includes things like the following:

 

  1. You have been negotiating agreements with the provincial and territorial governments across Canada to ensure that no government claws back any of the Canada Disability Benefit:

 

  • With which provincial or territorial governments has the Federal Government reached an agreement? What are the terms of those agreement?

 

  • In the case of any province or territory where no agreement has been reached, what specific issues remain unresolved?

 

  • How much longer do you anticipate that these negotiations will take?

 

  1. At present, Bill C-22 does not prevent a private insurance company from clawing back all or part of the Canada Disability Benefit from a person who receives it, and who also receives disability benefits under a private insurance policy.

 

  • What options is the Federal Government considering for preventing this?

 

  1. Under Bill C-22, people with disabilities have no way to seek a remedy if a provincial or territorial government, or private insurance company, claws back some or all of the Canada Disability Benefit:

 

  • How does the Government plan to monitor for clawbacks by provincial or territorial governments, or by private insurance companies, and to enforce compliance with its “no clawbacks” policy?

 

  1. It is not clear whether all provinces and territories must sign agreements before the Canada Disability Benefit can start to be paid anywhere in Canada:

 

  • Is the Federal Government prepared to allow the Canada Disability Benefit to be paid to people with disabilities in a province or territory that has signed an agreement with the Federal Government, even if other provinces or territories have not signed a “no clawbacks” agreement?

 

  1. We understand that the development of the regulations is already underway:

 

  • What has the Government already decided upon as features to be included in the regulations?

 

  • What has the Government decided will be the process for applying for the Canada Disability Benefit?

 

  • What has the Government decided will be the process for appealing a refusal of the Canada Disability Benefit?

 

  • What has the Government decided will be the eligibility criteria for the Canada Disability Benefit?

 

  1. To date, the public does not know when the Canada Disability Benefit will begin to be paid, or how much it will be. Various figures have been circulating or rumoured:

 

  • Once the bill is passed and regulations are enacted, how long will it take the Government to set up the application process and to process applications?

 

  • What is the soonest people with disabilities can expect to start receiving the Canada Disability Benefit?

 

  • What range of minimum total income should people with disabilities expect to receive, when the Canada Disability Benefit is combined with provincial, territorial or private insurance benefits?

 

 

If we can assist in any way, we would welcome the opportunity.

 

Sincerely,

 

David Lepofsky CM, O. Ont

Chair Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance

Twitter: @davidlepofsky