When did it become ok for government to disregard legislation? So incredibly disappointed that the Federal government announced the Canada Disability Benefit amount in the budget that is less than anyone imagined #MissingAZero . There was no consultation on what was announced - $200 per month ($6 per day) will not lift people with a disability out of poverty. The purpose of the Act is to reduce poverty and "the amount of the benefit must take into consideration (a) the Official Poverty Line; (b) the additional costs associated with living with a disability". An additional amount of $2,400 per year will not bring any person with a disability in our province above the poverty line who are currently receiving provincial disability assistance. Persons with a disability and single mothers are the most impoverished populations in NB. The Canada Disability Benefit is a chance to prototype a living wage with our most vulnerable citizens. I hear this every day and it keeps me up at night: "What do I choose this month? Food, power, phone, rent, over the counter medications, assistive devices, incontinence supplies, snow removal, accessible transportation, hearing aids.... Poverty does not allow me to choose health, recreation and socialization." The Government of Canada needs to reverse this decision - 35% of New Brunswickers with a disability is a lot of votes.
Mike George, MSc
6mo
I don’t get it. It’s not even lip service.
Valerie Hillier
5mo
Wow...just wow
Labour Market Facilitator @ Inclusion NB | Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) Partnership, Championing Inclusivity and Diversity
6moThe CDB is simply not a “benefit” at this amount. This tokenistic amount is more insulting than if they had failed to put the CBD in this budget. To blatantly turn their backs on the disability community amplifies how elected government officials are coming from a position of privilege and lack the perspective of what a life of poverty actually means. In NB, this will not even bring pwd up to the Deep Income Poverty line. The $200 monthly supplement introduced by Higgs government was clearly done rather than increasing the disability income by $200, so it can be dropped ad hoc (read: when Higgs wants to increase his billions in surplus as a political bragging right). Now the Feds are budgeting a $200 (MAX!) monthly supplemental income. If this doesn’t scream ableism bias- what does?