Statement in response Canada Disability Benefit investment April 2024

 If I had $500 extra dollars (Canada Disability Benefit)

Members from the Disability Action Hall in Calgary & Area want to share the impact that having more income to address inflation might have on Canadians across the country. The data collected from the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) consultation to help paint an accurate picture of the financial needs of 1.5 million Canadians is a legacy to be proud of. We have a short film, “If I Had $500 Extra Dollars” (3.23 minutes), and share how it will make a difference in our daily lives.

• We are disappointed that the $200 monthly budgeted amount does not lift Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. 
• Every little bit helps, especially when the federal government strives for the indexed supplement to be free from provincial clawbacks. 
• Alberta’s provincial assistance is 650 dollars below the poverty line ($30 526 ). 
• The Canada Disability Benefit amount should reflect the area in which people live. Living costs within Alberta are inconsistent, and the costs in larger centers like Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, or Northern Canada are not comparable to other places. 
• We also ask for the CDB to expand eligibility beyond the disability tax credit and automatically enroll all those who currently receive provincial/territorial disability financial support. 
• We look forward to providing more input into the second draft of the regulations once it is published in the Canada Gazette.

Sincerely,

Members of the Disability Action Hall, Calgary, Alberta

cc: Block Quebecois Leader, Yves-François Blanchet Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca  , Conservative Party of Canada House Leader, Pierre Poilievre pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca  , Green Party of Canada Leader, Elizabeth May elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca, New Democratic Party of Canada House Leader, Jagmeet Singh Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca, , Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca, MP of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca BQC Shadow Minister, Louise Chabot,  louisechabot@bloc.quebec,  Conservative Party Shadow Minister, Tracy Gray Tracy.Gray@parl.gc.ca, Green Party Shadow Minister, Mike Morrice mike.morrice@parl.gc.ca, NDP Shadow Minister, Bonita Zarillo bonita.zarrillo@parl.gc.ca. Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon, SCSS.minister@gov.ab.ca, Official Critic of SCSS Marie Renaud St.Albert@assembly.ab.ca