Five senators argue more federal support is needed for Canadians with disabilities
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On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, five senators pressed the federal government on accessibility, inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities.
It has been a significant year for disability policy. The new Canada Disability Benefit began issuing payments to eligible Canadians. The benefit, however, has fallen short of expectations due to its delayed rollout, modest payment amounts and burdensome application process.
Senators Chantal Petitclerc, Kim Pate, Andrew Cardozo, Mary Coyle and Bernadette Clement brought these and other concerns to light in Senate Question Period on December 3, 2025 as part of their advocacy for Canadians living with disabilities.
Senator Petitclerc highlighted the federal government’s slow progress in implementing its own accessibility policy for public servants with disabilities. Many workspaces remain inadequately adapted, and employees have been left without the necessary assistive tools. If accessibility is to become a reality throughout society, the federal government needs to make it a priority at its own work sites.
Senator Pate questioned the government about assurances given to Parliament during debate on Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act. Parliament was told that the Canada Disability Benefit would lift “hundreds of thousands” of Canadians living with disabilities above the poverty line. It later emerged that the benefit as now conceived is expected to bring only 25,000 people out of poverty each year — and not until 2028.
Senator Cardozo inquired about the government’s vision to substantially improve the status of Canadians living with disabilities over the long-term. No single policy is going to solve all the issues overnight, and achieving sustained better outcomes for disabled Canadians will require patience and planning.
Senator Coyle raised concerns about the Canada Disability Benefit in the Chamber for the 10th time since 2023. On this occasion, she asked about the application process: to receive the benefit, applicants must first apply for the Disability Tax Credit, a process known to be costly and complex because it requires certification from a medical practitioner who may charge a fee for their services. To add to this, it was recently reported that the CRA was only meeting its eight-week processing standard 38% of the time. Senator Coyle pointed out that there are Canadians with disabilities waiting up to six months for their Disability Tax Credit certifications. She sought an answer from the government as to what was being done to improve the situation.
Senator Clement drew attention to the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities in correctional institutes. She cited the 2024–25 annual report of former correctional investigator Ivan Zinger which identified shortcomings in the treatment of prisoners with psychiatric needs. He offered several recommendations for improvement. Senator Clement asked whether the government intends to act on those recommendations.
These questions examined the government’s disability policies from different angles. The persistence that senators have demonstrated in raising these issues in recent years shows the strength of feeling in the Chamber that Canada must do better for those living with disabilities. While the Canada Disability Benefit marks a step forward, significant work remains to ensure accessibility, inclusion and dignity for all Canadians with disabilities.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, five senators pressed the federal government on accessibility, inclusion and the rights of persons with disabilities.
It has been a significant year for disability policy. The new Canada Disability Benefit began issuing payments to eligible Canadians. The benefit, however, has fallen short of expectations due to its delayed rollout, modest payment amounts and burdensome application process.
Senators Chantal Petitclerc, Kim Pate, Andrew Cardozo, Mary Coyle and Bernadette Clement brought these and other concerns to light in Senate Question Period on December 3, 2025 as part of their advocacy for Canadians living with disabilities.
Senator Petitclerc highlighted the federal government’s slow progress in implementing its own accessibility policy for public servants with disabilities. Many workspaces remain inadequately adapted, and employees have been left without the necessary assistive tools. If accessibility is to become a reality throughout society, the federal government needs to make it a priority at its own work sites.
Senator Pate questioned the government about assurances given to Parliament during debate on Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act. Parliament was told that the Canada Disability Benefit would lift “hundreds of thousands” of Canadians living with disabilities above the poverty line. It later emerged that the benefit as now conceived is expected to bring only 25,000 people out of poverty each year — and not until 2028.
Senator Cardozo inquired about the government’s vision to substantially improve the status of Canadians living with disabilities over the long-term. No single policy is going to solve all the issues overnight, and achieving sustained better outcomes for disabled Canadians will require patience and planning.
Senator Coyle raised concerns about the Canada Disability Benefit in the Chamber for the 10th time since 2023. On this occasion, she asked about the application process: to receive the benefit, applicants must first apply for the Disability Tax Credit, a process known to be costly and complex because it requires certification from a medical practitioner who may charge a fee for their services. To add to this, it was recently reported that the CRA was only meeting its eight-week processing standard 38% of the time. Senator Coyle pointed out that there are Canadians with disabilities waiting up to six months for their Disability Tax Credit certifications. She sought an answer from the government as to what was being done to improve the situation.
Senator Clement drew attention to the experiences of people living with hidden disabilities in correctional institutes. She cited the 2024–25 annual report of former correctional investigator Ivan Zinger which identified shortcomings in the treatment of prisoners with psychiatric needs. He offered several recommendations for improvement. Senator Clement asked whether the government intends to act on those recommendations.
These questions examined the government’s disability policies from different angles. The persistence that senators have demonstrated in raising these issues in recent years shows the strength of feeling in the Chamber that Canada must do better for those living with disabilities. While the Canada Disability Benefit marks a step forward, significant work remains to ensure accessibility, inclusion and dignity for all Canadians with disabilities.