On April 7, 2022, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance released Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. March of Dimes Canada’s reaction to this budget is mixed. While we welcome several positive investments, particularly related to employment and home accessibility, we expected to hear more about previously promised programs for people with disabilities in Canada, in particular the Canada Disability Benefit.

After meeting with the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion several weeks ago, we were encouraged to learn that government and stakeholders are working together on the design, consultation and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and broader Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). We know that extensive, grassroots consultations on the Canada Disability Benefit are ramping up this spring, and that Minister Qualtrough and her department are actively working to re-introduce the Canada Disability Benefit Act.

We would have hoped that Budget 2022 would be an opportunity for the federal government to update on the status and timelines for this essential new federal income support benefit, signalling to the community that equity for people with disabilities remains a priority. While people with disabilities continue to experience a crisis of poverty, March of Dimes Canada is united with the broader disability community in disappointment that this message was not telegraphed in the budget.

March of Dimes Canada welcomes the investment of $272.6 million over five years in early action on the employment pillar of the DIAP, as requested in our pre-budget submission. The importance of this investment cannot be understated in addressing the systemic barriers and lack of access to meaningful employment for people with disabilities. 

Funds will support the implementation of an employment strategy for people with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund. March of Dimes Canada has already seen the benefit of this investment, with the extension of two Opportunities Fund projects, including a partnership with the Canadian Association for Supported Employment. 

As promised in the Minister of Seniors, the Honourable Kamal Khera’s, mandate letter, Budget 2022 proposes the creation of an expert panel to study the idea of an Aging at Home Benefit. This benefit is intended to be an additional income supplement to support seniors to age in place. Given the financial barriers to aging in place cited by Canadians in March of Dimes Canada’s spring 2021 national study, we support this benefit and look forward to additional details on how we may participate in the process.

Home Modification Tax Credits

March of Dimes Canada commends the federal government’s commitment to funding home modifications that enables seniors and people with disabilities to remain independent and safe in their own homes. Budget 2022 doubles the qualifying expense limit of the Home Accessibility Tax Credit (up to $20,000) and introduces a Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (up to $7,500). 

These initiatives promise to alleviate the financial burden for many families; however, the limitation of tax credits is that one must be able to afford to pay out pocket up front. Building on the model of our Ontario-based Home and Vehicle Modification Program, which provides direct grants to cover the full cost of modifications, we will look for opportunities to build on the federal government’s commitments in this area.

Health Human Resources

Two years into a pandemic, Canada continues to deal with a crisis in health human resources, which has impacted seniors and people with disabilities who require personal support workers to remain independent and safe in their own homes. March of Dimes Canada is disappointed in the absence of expected federal investment to work with the provinces and territories to train 50,000 new PSWs and raise their minimum wage to $25 per hour. 

March of Dimes Canada was pleased to see additional Budget 2022 initiatives signalling support for inclusion of equity-seeking groups, including people with disabilities, in the coming years. For example: