Carla Qualtrough stands up to speak in the Chamber about Bill C-22
Ottawa, ON, February 1st, 2023.
© HOC-CDC, credit: Bernard Thibodeau, House of Commons Photo Services

Since 2015, our Government has been determined to act on issues faced by the disability community. With this goal in mind, we have passed the Accessible Canada Act, and the first ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Today, we go even further, with Bill C-22 – the Canada Disability Benefit Act passing third reading in the House of Commons by unanimous consent.

We know that working age people with disabilities are twice as likely to experience poverty. The situation is even more precarious for persons with severe disabilities, women, LGBTQ2+ persons, Indigenous people, Black and racialized Canadians with disabilities. We are committed to tackle this issue that affects over 1 million Canadians. Bill C-22 aims to establish the legal framework to create a benefit for working-age people with disabilities facing poverty. It directly addresses one of the urgent needs identified by the disability community in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, namely financial security. This bill is historic, as we have a unique opportunity to lift thousands of Canadians out of poverty.

“With Bill C-22, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new benefit that will lift many working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to keep the momentum up. In Canada, no person with a disability should live in poverty.”

– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

The Government will continue working with the disability community, stakeholders, Indigenous organizations, and the provinces and territories to inform the design of the proposed benefit, its regulations and to ensure it helps as many people as possible.

For more information:

See the press release here.

Track the progress of the Bill here.