Canada's NDP

NDP

October 19th, 2022

The NDP is fighting for people living with a disability

NDP Critic for Disability Inclusion, Bonita Zarrillo, issued the following statement:

“Today, as the cost of food hit a 41-year high, people living with a disability are falling further and further behind. Yesterday, with unanimous support from all political parties, the Canada Disability Benefit Act is finally moving to the next stage to make this benefit a reality.
But for the last seven years, Canadians living with a disability have waited while the Liberals promised to deliver the Canada Disability Benefit. It took pressure from the NDP to force them to act.
People living with a disability have been feeling the financial strain as the price of food soars and the cost of renting or buying a home is unaffordable in many Canadian cities. The government’s delay has hurt people living with a disability who were often struggling to make ends meet before interest rates and inflation made things even more challenging.
Living with a disability in Canada should never mean that you live in poverty.
The NDP is working to make sure that the government stops treating Canadians living with a disability as an afterthought and takes meaningful action to lift the one million Canadians living with a disability out of poverty. We will continue to fight to ensure people living with a disability in Canada have access to the benefits and financial supports they need to live with autonomy and dignity. We will continue to use our power in Parliament to pressure the Liberals to ensure that legislation on a Canada Disability Benefit provides comprehensive, immediate support that lifts people out of poverty and doesn’t leave anyone behind.”

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For more information, please contact:
NDP Media Centre: 613-222-2351 or media@ndp.ca