NDP calls out Liberals for delaying the Canada Disability Benefit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 6, 2024

In response to the federal government's proposed regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit, NDP critic for Disability Inclusion Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam) issued the following statement:

“Canadians with disabilities deserve to live with respect and dignity, but for generations, that hasn't been the case due to Liberal and Conservative governments failing to deliver the help they need.

Recently, the Liberals proposed a rollout and regulations of the Canada Disability Benefit that’s on the same track of failing to support persons with disabilities and will leave more than a million people in poverty. The Liberals are pushing back this much-needed benefit by 89 days for more consultations that will not help anyone.

This delay will only further hurt persons with disabilities.

New Democrats are calling on the Liberals to stop delaying, listen to the advocates and the disability community, and fix this mess.

The Liberals promised to do better for people with disabilities who are struggling to pay rent and afford groceries, but instead, they're choosing to short-change them.

Successive Liberal and Conservative governments haven't committed the resources needed to lift people with disabilities out of poverty and remove the barriers to accessing support. The disability community no longer trusts the Liberals’ regulation process, and that is deeply concerning, especially when Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives are pushing to cut supports like the Canada Disability Benefit altogether.

Only the NDP is committed to lifting people with disabilities out of poverty. We will continue to fight to make this benefit work for Canadians with disabilities and ensure that they get the support they need to live in dignity.”