Momentum Building to Address Poverty of Canadians with Disabilities

Toronto, ON - Two influential reports issued this week provide an optimistic signal that the Government of Canada is preparing to tackle the poverty of Canadians with disabilities.  The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) celebrates International Human Rights Day, today December 10, 2009, by applauding both the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for their efforts and recommendations to address the persistent poverty of Canadians with disabilities and their families.

Both reports recommend that the Disability Tax Credit be made refundable – an action the disability community has been calling for as a priority step in addressing the poverty of Canadians with disabilities.

Additionally, the Senate Committee report, In from the Margins: A Call to Action on poverty, housing and homelessness, recommends and adopts a rights-based approach to understanding and addressing poverty.  CACL also applauds the Standing Committee on Finance for its recognition of the challenges people with intellectual disabilities are facing in regards to the newly implemented Registered Disability Savings Plan.  In particular, CACL is proud that the Finance Committee noted in its report the recommendation that: “the assumption of legal capacity be foundational and that an individual be permitted to use support in financial decision making without that use affecting legal capacity.”

CACL’s president, Bendina Miller, is encouraged by recent events: “These two major reports combined with last week’s tabling of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) symbolize a reenergized effort on disability issues by the Government of Canada.  Action on the CRPD and recognition of the recommendation that the legal capacity of people with disabilities be foundational are extremely positive outcomes of the work the disability community has done to advance the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.  We are hopeful that these recommendations will be translated into action.”  

Michael Bach, CACL’s Executive Vice-President, commented: “People with intellectual disabilities are three times more likely that Canadians without disabilities to live in poverty.  A refundable Disability Tax Credit will make a remarkable difference in the lives of some of the poorest Canadians.  These recommendations, if actualized, have the potential to have significant and lasting impact on the lives of Canadians with disabilities.”

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About the Canadian Association for Community Living

The Canadian Association for Community Living is a Canada-wide association of family members and others working to advance the human rights and inclusion of persons of all ages who have an intellectual disability.

Founded in 1958 by parents of children with intellectual disabilities who wanted supports and services within the community instead of in institutions, CACL has become one of Canada's ten largest charitable organizations, and has grown into a federation of 10 provincial and three territorial associations comprising of 420 local associations and over 40,000 members.

For more information, please contact:

Anna MacQuarrie
Director, Policy & Programs
416.661.9611 ext. 204 ▪ Cell 416.602-3015