QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Canada Disability Benefit
September 18, 2024
Senator Gold, my question relates to the findings of a Statistics Canada study published in August on food insecurity among Canadians with disabilities. We have learned that 26.4% of respondents with disabilities live in a food insecure household, compared to 12.5% of those without disabilities. That is more than double.
Senator Gold, many senators have noted that your government is refusing to review its position on the $200 per month for the future Canada disability benefit. Could you at least reassure us and confirm that the government intends to bring in other programs and solutions at the same time to specifically address this problem of food insecurity among 26.4% of people with disabilities?
Thank you, senator, for pointing out this important issue and for continuing to ask me about it. That is to your credit. I don’t have any information on that, but I will raise the question with the minister as soon as I can get a hold of him. In the meantime, I don’t want to hide behind platitudes or empty rhetoric. I’m really not in a position to be able to reassure you. The government has invested a lot, within its jurisdictional boundaries, to help the provinces and territories, and even the private sector, to address the issues and challenges and to resolve this problem. I will raise the question with the minister.
Senator Gold, I think that we all agree that food is a basic need. I would like some clarification because that is what we were told. We were told that there will be something else, that there will be programs and maybe additional targeted funding. I would like you to get back to me with specific information on this.
I will do my best.
Thank you.
