Concerns are growing that the rights of millions of people with disabilities will be put on the back burner as the new cabinet removes the minister for people with disabilities.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a 38-member “purpose-driven “cabinet on the 13th, but did not include a dedicated minister for people with disabilities. “The fact that disability inclusion is missing from a key ministerial position sends a message that our society is going to put people with disabilities on the back burner,” said Rabia Kheder, executive director of Disability Without Poverty, while also questioning the possibility of improving the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), which will be implemented starting in July.
The CDB, which provides a maximum of $200 per month, is far from sufficient to alleviate actual poverty. “According to government data, only 25,000 people with disabilities could be lifted out of poverty with this benefit, while 1.6 million people with disabilities are below the poverty line,” Kheder said.
Also, criticism is being raised that the Accessible Canada Act, enacted in 2019, is at a standstill. “To make this law a reality, disability inclusion plans must be implemented across all ministries,” said Kedder, adding that a “champion” is needed to oversee it.
David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility Alliance of Ontario, also emphasized that “the voices of people with disabilities are more important than ever as major changes such as economic restructuring and infrastructure expansion are planned.” He pointed out that “the lack of accessible housing is a prime example of people with disabilities being excluded.”
Meanwhile, Krista Carr, executive director of Inclusion Canada, expressed concern that “the work of people with disabilities has likely been transferred to Patty Hajdu, the current Minister of Families and Employment,” but “the size of her ministry has grown too much.”
Heidi Jantz, a professor at the University of Alberta, said that “viewing disability as an employment issue misses the essence of the problem,” and pointed out that the absence of a dedicated minister for disabilities could hinder the inclusiveness of policies overall.
Disability rights groups have expressed deep concern about the government’s potential change of direction, saying: “Without a ministerial post, there will be no one to directly tell the prime minister what his priorities are for disability policy.”