Pass the Disability Benefit

Asarial,

We’ve heard from you, and we agree, that Bill C-22 and the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) can’t die again in Senate. Already almost 8000 people have emailed Senate calling on them to pass Bill C-22.

The bill is going through consideration in committee, and then will move to third reading. It must pass in third reading, if it doesn’t it will be another year without adequate supports for folks with disabilities living in poverty. If we can continue the pressure, Senate will pass the bill.

People with disabilities in Canada are twice as likely to live in poverty than those without a disability, and are three times more likely to experience food insecurity. [1] With the rising cost of living, people with disabilities need support now to live with dignity. Will you send a message to Senate calling on them to pass Bill C-22, and the CDB now?

https://act.leadnow.ca/call-on-senate-pass-bill-c-22/?source=k

In solidarity,
Ellen & Dan on behalf of Leadnow

Sources:
[1] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2017001/article/54854-eng.htm

Asarial,

The 2023 budget was just released, and despite calls from MPs and people like you and me, 2023 will be another year without lifesaving support for Canadians with disabilities.

More than 1 in 5 Canadians identifies as having a disability, with people of working age making up 23% of those living below the poverty line. [1] Which means if you have a disability in Canada you are twice as likely to live in poverty. [2] With rising costs of living making it hard to put food on the table, Canadians need more support now.

Bill C-22 – an act to reduce poverty and support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit (CDB) – is making its way through senate, and could pass any day. [3] The CDB could put more money in the pockets of people with disabilities — and is an important first step to ensuring everyone can meet their basic needs.

The bill needs to pass to give Canadians these important supports, but it will not pass without public pressure. Here’s where you come in: senators aren’t used to getting bombarded, so if we flood their inboxes with emails calling on them to pass a strong, robust Bill C-22 to support Canadians with disabilities living in poverty, they will have no choice but to pass the bill. Will you send a message now?

Thanks to people power, a stronger Bill C-22 passed in the House of Commons this February with unanimous support. While it’s not perfect, the strengthened bill is a good foundation of support that can be built on to provide the essential funds to folks with disabilities to live with dignity.

Provincial/territorial disability assistance programs don’t provide adequate support. [4,5] MP Mike Morrice — along with disability advocates across the country — have been calling for Bill C-22. [6] With multi-partisan support, and over 89% of Canadians supporting the CDB, this should be a no-brainer for Senate. [7] It’s our job to demand this bill be passed now so no one is left behind.

With a groundswell of support, we can show senators the powerful community of people from coast to coast fighting for stronger support for folks with disabilities in Canada. It’s bills like C-22 that will put that fight into reality and into people’s bank accounts. Will you send a message calling on Senate to pass Bill C-22?

https://act.leadnow.ca/call-on-senate-pass-bill-c-22/source=k

With hope,
Ellen and Dan, on behalf of the Leadnow Team

Sources:

[1, 2] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2018002-eng.htm
[3]  https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-22
[4] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rising-costs-disability-assistance-1.6461864
[5] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-managing-money-with-disability/
[6] https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2022-12-14/mike-morrice%E2%80%99s-amendments-pass-strengthen-c-22
[7] https://angusreid.org/disability-poverty-benefit/