Build a more accessible Canada

According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability by Statistics Canada, more than six million Canadians, or 22% of the population, identify as living with a disability. Persons with disabilities are more likely to have shorter life expectancies, live in poverty, and earn less compared to Canadians without disabilities. 

Recommendations

Pass the Canada Disability Benefit as quickly as possible and ensure the Benefit is open for applications in 2023. 

Reform the Disability Tax Credit to ensure it is more inclusive, particularly for those with non-physical and / or episodic disabilities that make gaining employment difficult; and working with disability advocates to make the application process more accessible. 

As promised in the Minister of Finance’s Mandate Letter, change the Canadian Caregiver Credit from a non-refundable to a refundable tax credit to ensure that all Canadians caring for relatives with a physical or mental impairment are treated equally. 

Implement a National Caregiving Strategy. 

Enact national long-term care standards that include sufficient funding and enforcement to be effective.  

Improve the Registered Disability Savings Plan by making withdrawals in situations of financial distress or housing needs less punitive, bringing them in line with withdrawal regulations for RRSPs. 

Review the impact of the ten-year rule to allow people under age 60 to access their RDSP funds.