QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Canada Disability Benefit
May 28, 2025
First, I want to express my happiness at reuniting with all of you, my colleagues, and welcoming — very warmly and with all of our appreciation — our new colleagues who are here in the chamber. It is great to be back.
Senator Gold, I’m so pleased to be able to spend your last month with you serving Canadians here in the Senate. This is a special month. I am happy to be here with you.
Yesterday, we heard the King speak about building Canada’s economy to become the strongest in the G7. We heard of the opportunities to think and act big. We heard that a country is only truly strong when it serves everyone.
I applaud the emphasis on protecting, transforming and growing Canada’s economy. This is imperative for Canada to be strong and free and for Canadians to be able to count on good jobs and incomes. We need growth in national revenues to be that country that serves everyone.
This is National AccessAbility Week in Canada, and the first month of eligibility for the much-awaited Canada Disability Benefit is this June — in other words, next week — with payments slated to commence this July. The Accessible Canada Act came into force six years ago, and the September 2020 Speech from the Throne announced the new Canada Disability Benefit. So, it’s time.
Senator Gold, can you confirm that the Canada Disability Benefit will be available for application as planned this June with people receiving the benefit in July?
Thank you, senator, for your question, for your kind remarks, and also, importantly, for your continued advocacy on this issue.
My understanding, colleagues, is that the government is still on track and expects that the payments will begin in July 2025, and that further information regarding the application process will be shared in short order. Should there be any developments, I will be sure to update this chamber. That is my understanding as it stands today.
Great news. Thank you, Senator Gold.
Groups such as Disability Without Poverty are worried about the lack of information being provided by the federal government to Canadians on the Canada Disability Benefit. Alberta has still not committed to not clawing back provincial, social and disability payments as they await more direction from the federal government. As you know, there have been any many concerns raised about the limited eligibility for the benefit as it stands now and its low amount. For now, the focus is on getting the promised benefit out to the people who need it.
Senator Gold, what is the government doing to widely provide information on eligibility and how Canadians can actually access the Canada Disability Benefit? Will we be seeing legislation or some other measure that will be able to provide for the exemption of the benefit from being treated as income for tax purposes?
Thank you for your question. I’m not in a position to speculate on any legislation in this area, as this chamber understands. I can only say, again, that information with regard to the application process will be forthcoming and that the government remains on track for the cheques to finally — much awaited — be available as of July.
