MS Canada will remain engaged as the Canada Disability Benefit begins regulatory phase
TORONTO, June 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MS Canada applauds the passage of the Canada Disability Benefit Act framework legislation to create a federal income benefit for Canadians who live with a disability.
The Canada Disability Benefit Act, Bill C-22, passed through the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada and today received Royal Assent, officially passing the bill into law. The bill will now begin its regulatory phase to develop a system to make direct payments to Canadians who live with a disability.
“We are thrilled with Bill C-22's passage and the support from Members of Parliament and Senators about the need to provide income support for Canadians with disabilities, including those with episodic disabilities, like MS,” said Benjamin Davis, Senior Vice-President, Mission at MS Canada. “The passage of this bill shows the strength of advocacy work and will be life-changing for many members of our community.”
Income security is a top priority for the MS community and MS Canada has advocated to bring this benefit to fruition. In 2022, an MS Canada digital petition in support of the Canada Disability Benefit received close to 10,000 signatures within 24 hours of launch, signaling widespread support for the benefit. In the fall of 2022, MS Canada launched a letter-writing email campaign where Canadians could write directly to their Member of Parliament to underline the importance of this benefit; more than 6,000 emails to all 338 MPs were sent over the course of the campaign.
A representative from MS Canada also testified during a Parliamentary committee study on the bill, securing a key change to include episodic disability under the definition of disability in the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for the Canada Disability Benefit. MS Canada representatives also remained engaged during the Senate process, submitting to the Senate committee studying the bill and meeting with key Senators to advocate for the bill’s quick passage. Income security was also the focus of more than 60 meetings with Members of Parliament and Senators in early May during MS Canada’s Day on the Hill activities, part of MS Awareness Month.
Though the bill has passed its legislative phase, it is expected to take at least a year before benefits are available to Canadians living with a disability. The government will now begin the regulatory phase, wherein the details of the benefit, including the payment amount, will be determined.