About the CDB & timeline
Bill C-22, The Canada Disability Benefit Act, is a welcome addition to Canada’s social safety net. As Canadians face a historically high cost of living and an affordable housing crisis, Canadians living with disabilities face additional costs and barriers that contribute to disproportionately higher poverty rates. But for people living with disabilities to have enough money in their pockets when they need it more than ever, the government needs to listen to the disability community’s calls for increased funding for the CDB and deliver a program that is accessible to all who need it.
Learn more about where the CDB is at today, the upcoming critical milestones that will ultimately shape whether the Benefit can deliver on the promise to Canadians living with a disability and what you can do to ensure it does.
Government introduces the Canada Disability Benefit Act (CDB) in Parliament. Its stated purpose is to “reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities.”
First & Second Readings are completed in both the House of Commons and Senate prior to the bill being given consideration in committee ahead of the Third & Final Reading.
The legislation receives Royal Assent, passing through Parliament with support from all political parties. By order of the Governor in Council, the Act must come into force on or before first anniversary of royal assent, giving government one year to figure out funding, eligibility and application requirements.
Concerns begin to emerge that, though passed, funding for the Act will fall well short of what’s needed to meet the basic needs of Canadians living with a disability and that eligibility/application requirements may prove restrictive.
Early meetings with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) validate concerns that the funding levels being considered will be woefully inadequate. Disability advocates and organizations connected to the community begin to mobilize, identifying the policy gaps and funding needed to fully support Canadians living with a disability.
48 organizations form the #FundTheBenefit Coalition, launching Fund The Benefit, a campaign calling on the Federal government to fully fund the CDB. Within the first week, Canadians sent over 8,000 emails to local MPs, MPPs and the Ministers for Finance and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, calling for a fully funded benefit.
With minimal movement on the issue, despite pleas from Disability advocates and nearly 27,600 emails now sent to elected officials calling for a fully funded benefit, Campaign Partners kick their advocacy efforts into high gear.
An Op-Ed published by campaign partners in The Hill Times — Ottawa’s premier parliamentary news source on policy and politics — clearly outlines the need for a fully-funded benefit and the challenges to getting there.
Amid a range of meetings with key government officials, a virtual roundtable with Jenna Sudds — the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development – allows campaign partners to clearly articulate what’s needed to support a fully-funded Disability Benefit.
An Open Letter published in The Globe and Mail by #FundTheBenefit Coalition partners kicks off a flurry of media activity in the lead-up to the 2024 Budget, with advocates appearing on Newstalk 1010, CBC News and CP24, among others, stressing the urgency of the situation and calling on government to commit to a fully-fund benefit.
Key meetings between campaign partners and the Ministry of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities as well as the 416 Caucus in Ottawa hit the importance of this issue home with key decision makers as Canadians continue to send emails to elected officials calling for a fully funded benefit. By the end of February, over 75,000 emails have been sent by Canadians calling on government to act.
Feeling pressure from the overwhelming show of support from Canadians — who by the end of March will have sent 136,000 emails to elected officials, 30 Liberal MPs publish an open letter to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister calling on them to fund the Benefit in Budget 2024.
Neil Hetherington of Daily Bread Food Bank appears on Power and Politics with David Cochrane to make a final plea for funding ahead of the April Budget.
Funding for the benefit is announced in Budget 2024. While greater than initial discussions indicated it would be, the $6.1 billion allocated over six years is noted as narrowly focused and insufficient by disability advocates. Only 600,000 of over one million working-age Canadians with disabilities will be eligible, and support is limited to $200 per month, amounting to merely $6.66 a day. The campaign responds with an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star, noting the inadequacy and, again, calling on government to act.
Amid calls for clarity on eligibility and increased funding for the benefit, Government says the Act will be fully up and running with payments being distributed to eligible recipients by 2025. Public consultations on the regulations and eligibility are opened.
#FundTheBenefit Coalition partners formally submit their comments on the CDB regulations as part of the consultation. In the submission, and in addition to improving the inadequate benefit amount, they call on government to improve the restrictive eligibility criteria, increase the minimum income threshold, and ensure recipients won’t be restricted from accessing other programs because of receiving the benefit.
Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultations underway. #FundTheBenefit Colaition Partners are actively participating in these consultations to address the funding issues that remain with the Disability Benefit.
The Federal Government’s Fall Economic Statement will be released. This will be the first opportunity government has to increase funding to the CDB as well as address changes to eligibility. To ensure they act on the opportunity, email your MP today.
Federal government’s first progress report due on how it met the obligation to engage and collaborate with the disability community on the development of regulations (as per the CDB Act).
Federal Budget 2025 will be released. Should government not address funding the eligibility requirements in the Fall Economic Statement, this will be the second and last opportunity to see increases in CDB funding before the program rolls out.
Final CDB regulations to be published in the Canada Gazette.
Due date for the federal government’s second progress report on the CDB regulatory process, and for the regulations to be finalized (as per the CDB Act).
CDB payments will begin to flow to eligible recipients.