In November 2022, LEAF Communications & Advocacy Manager Jen Gammad appeared as a witness in a Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities meeting on Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act.
Approximately one in four disabled women in Canada live below the poverty line, compared to one in ten non-disabled women or men. With the cost of living on the rise for all Canadians, the need to act on disability poverty is more urgent than ever.
In line with the recommendations in LEAF’s Basic Income, Gender and Disability report, we supported the quick passage of Bill C-22, which aims to implement a Canada Disability Benefit. We strongly recommended that members of disabled communities lead every stage of rolling out the benefit, including design, implementation, and evaluation.
Read the full submission here.
LEAF-Bill-C22-HUMA-Brief