QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Canada Disability Benefit
April 9, 2024
Senator Gold, faced with growing economic uncertainty and instability, disability groups and parliamentarians, including more than 60 Liberal MPs, are calling on the government to fund the Canada disability benefit in Budget 2024.
When we studied the Canada disability benefit, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities committed to senators that the benefit would be there to support people in need by the end of 2024. In next Tuesday’s budget, will the government be honouring that commitment to persons with disabilities — too many of whom have been waiting far too long and continue to languish, living in poverty — by funding the Canada disability benefit?
Thank you for your question. It has been a long wait since we passed this historic piece of legislation.
On this particular issue, I am not in a position to make any announcements about what will be in the budget, but, fortunately, that will become very clear as of next week.
Thank you for your question.
If the government does not act in Budget 2024, what concrete steps will be taken to meet its commitment to deliver the Canada disability benefit by the end of 2024?
Thank you. Again, I really don’t want to speculate as to what may or may not be in the budget because I am not in a position to speak to that.
The government has always been determined to get this right, in consultation with those within the disability communities, and it will continue to do so. This is an important priority of the government, and I have every confidence it will deliver on its promise.
