HUMA committee briefing binder: Appearance of Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion - October 31, 2022 

1. Overview

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) has invited you to appear before the Committee to discuss Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act.

2. Committee proceedings

The appearance is scheduled for Monday, October 31, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You will have up to 5 minutes for opening remarks.

You will be accompanied by:

• Alexis Conrad, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
• Krista Wilcox, Director General

Departmental officials provided a technical briefing to the Committee on October 26, 2022. There were three follow-ups:

• Tracy Gray (CPC): ESDC meetings with provincial counterparts on the CDB and its implementation, broken down by date and province
• MP Louise Chabot (BQ): Data on poverty across Canada / data on provincial programs that exist for persons with disabilities and how the income support programs stack up against the market basket measure across the country
• MP Bonita Zarrillo (NDP): Diagnostic information on persons with disabilities

HUMA members:

Tracy Gray (Conservative Party of Canada), Louise Chabot (Bloc Québécois) and Bonita Zarrillo (New Democratic Party) are their respective party’s Disability Inclusion critics

HUMA has agreed that questioning of witnesses would be allocated as follows:

Round 1 has 6 minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows:

• Conservative Party
• Liberal Party
• Bloc Québécois
• New Democratic Party

For Round 2 and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning will be as follows:

• Conservative Party, 5 minutes
• Liberal Party, 5 minutes
• Bloc Québécois, 2 and a half minutes
• New Democratic Party, 2 and a half minutes
• Conservative Party, 5 minutes
• Liberal Party, 5 minutes

3. Anticipated questions

Preamble

Short title

Definition

General

Regulations

Parliamentary review

Consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act

Coming into force

Table of contents

List of acronyms and abbreviations

Benefit design and eligibility

1. How much will recipients receive?
2. How many working-age Canadians with disabilities will be lifted out of poverty by the CDB?
3. When will Canadians start receiving the Benefit?
4. Will the CDB be indexed to inflation?
5. Will the Benefit decrease in situations of deflation?
6. Who will be eligible for the CDB?
7. Who will be responsible for administering the CDB?
8. How will the application process work?
9. Will the application process be onerous?
10. How will the appeals process be managed?
11. Will the Government be using data from the Disability Tax Credit to qualify applicants?
12. How will you mitigate fraudsters who apply for the Benefit?
13. How will those with invisible disabilities be captured and not left behind?
14. How will the effectiveness of the Benefit be measured?
15. What will the definition of disability be?
16. Will the CDB replace existing income supports such as CPPD or social assistance?

Coordination with Provincial/Territorial benefits

18. Will the federal government rely on provincial records to qualify applicants?
19. Will the Benefit be paid through provinces/territories or directly to individuals?
20. How will the CDB interact with P/T benefits?
21. Will the negotiation with P/Ts respect their primary jurisdiction over disability income benefits?
22. Will the CDB provide the same level of benefits throughout Canada or will there be variations among P/Ts and/or economic regions?

Text of the Bill

23. Why was the text of the Bill not updated to reflect concerns?
24. Why are most of the details regarding the Canada Disability Benefit left to regulations?
25. Confusion in French terms used: "en situation de handicap", "vivant avec un handicap", "handicapée" and "invalidité" and "incapacité"
26. Will Parliament be provided an opportunity to review regulations and provide input?
27. When will the Bill come into force?
28. Why does Bill C-22 include an amendment to the Income Tax Act?

Employment

29. Will entering the workforce leave persons with disabilities worse off?
30. Will there be an employment assistance component to the Benefit for people living with disabilities who are employed
31. Will the Benefit be an incentive or a disincentive to find work?

Consultations

32. Have consultations begun or are you waiting for the Bill to receive royal assent?
33. Will there be an impact on benefits from private insurance?
34. Can temporary measures be put in place while holding consultations on improving those measures?
35. Have the distinct needs of Indigenous populations been considered in the design and delivery of the CDB?
36. Have holders of Modern Treaties and Self-Government Agreements been engaged on the design and delivery implementation of the Benefit?
37. How can the disability community stay engaged the design of the CDB?

Economic impact

38. 38. Won’t the CDB just cause inflation?
39. 39. What are the spill over-effects of the Bill into the economy?
40. 40. Is the objective to reduce poverty for working-age Canadians with disabilities, or to eliminate it?

Other topics related to Canadians living with disabilities

41. What is the government doing to address the issue of Canadians living below the poverty line or not meeting their basic needs from seeking MAiD?
42. Would a universal guaranteed livable income be easier to administer?
43. Will the government change the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan to allow greater access or to benefit those living in poverty?

List of acronyms and abbreviations

CDB

Canada Disability Benefit

P/T

Provincial-Territorial

DTC

Disability Tax Credit

RDSP

Registered Disability Savings Plan

MAID

Medical Assistance In Dying

AMP

Administrative Monetary Penalties

CPPD

Canada Pension Plan Disability

Benefit design and eligibility

1. How much will recipients receive?

Clause 11(1)(c) of the Bill provides the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting the amount of the Benefit or the method determining the amount. 

The details of the Benefit, including the Benefit amount, eligibility criteria and other features such as the treatment of employment income, will be further detailed in proposed regulations developed should the Bill receive Royal Assent. These regulations will be informed through further engagement with the disability community and other stakeholders as well as through discussions with provinces and territories.

Funding for the Benefit will be determined through the federal budget process. As with all federal budgetary processes, Parliamentarians will have an opportunity to debate the proposed expenditures, including in Standing Committee reviews of the Estimates. 

2. How many working-age Canadians with disabilities will be lifted out of poverty by the CDB?

Our aim is to realize the purposes of the proposed Act, which is to reduce poverty and support the financial security for working-age persons with disabilities.

Information about the Benefit’s expected poverty impact will be available once its parameters have been more established and regulations are published.

In establishing eligibility criteria and amounts for the proposed Benefit, the Government is continuing to engage with persons disabilities and the disability community. This engagement will continue throughout the regulatory process.

3. When will Canadians start receiving the Benefit?

The Government is aware that many Canadians with disabilities are in desperate need of the additional financial support that this Benefit will aim to provide. While the Government intends to move forward as quickly as possible, it is also determined to ensure that the design and implementation of the Benefit is managed in a way that maximizes its positive impacts and minimizes any potential negative impacts. This will require significant engagement with provincial and territorial governments, as well as across federal programs and services. The Government also wants to ensure that the disability community has the time and opportunity to fully engage on the design of the Benefit.

4. Will the CDB be indexed to inflation?

Clause 11(1)(d) would provide the Governor in Council the authority to make regulations respecting the manner in which the Benefit is to be indexed to inflation.

This authority would allow the regulations to detail how the Benefit amount could be adjusted to account for inflation. There are a number of indexation options available and the details of indexation calculations are highly technical, making it an issue well-suited to regulations. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged on this and other design issues, including throughout the regulatory process. 

5. Will the Benefit decrease in situations of deflation?

Clause 11(1)(d) would give the Governor in Council the authority to make regulations respecting the manner in which the Benefit is to be indexed to inflation. This authority would allow the regulations to detail how the Benefit amount could be adjusted to account for inflation and deflation. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged, including throughout the regulatory process.

6. Who will be eligible for the CDB?

Our aim is to realize the purposes of the proposed Act, which is to reduce poverty and support the financial security for working-age persons with disabilities.

Clause 11 (1)(a) of the Bill would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting eligibility criteria for the proposed Benefit. 

Eligibility criteria will be further detailed in regulations developed under the proposed Act.

With the principle of "Nothing Without Us" as a priority, the Government will continue to engage with persons with disabilities, provincial and territorial governments and other stakeholders to inform the design of the Benefit. As well, the regulatory process will provide further opportunities to engage and consult on the design parameters of the Benefit.

7. Who will be responsible for administering the CDB?

Bill C-22 proposes that the Minister of Employment and Social Development (currently styled as the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion) is the Minister responsible for the Act and provides the Minister with the authorities and obligations related the administration of the proposed Act.

Regulations will further detail how the proposed Act will be administered. As a part of the Government’s ongoing consultations, we are currently engaging on the delivery mechanism for the CDB. Throughout engagement, we have heard that the delivery system of the proposed benefits should put the client at the centre and strive to provide simple and seamless client experience. As well, the disability community has noted that the delivery system needs to be respectful of persons with disabilities, including the diversity of disabilities and intersectional identities.

8. How will the application process work?

Clause 11(1)(f) would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting applications for the Benefit. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged, including throughout the regulatory process.

9. Will the application process be onerous?

Clause 11(1)(f) would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting applications for the Benefit.

Throughout our engagement process, we have heard from the disability community that many persons with disabilities face barriers when applying for disability supports and benefits. Our aim would be to make the application process for this Benefit as simple as possible. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged, including throughout the regulatory process to ensure that the application process for the proposed Benefit is as simple and seamless as possible.

10. How will the appeals process be managed?

Clause 11(1)(i) would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting appeals. This authority would allow regulations to detail all aspects of the appeals process, including which decisions are appealable and how individuals can file an appeal. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged, including throughout the regulatory process.

11. Will the Government be using data from the Disability Tax Credit to qualify applicants?

Clause 11 (1)(a) of the Bill would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting eligibility criteria for the proposed Benefit. Eligibility criteria would be further detailed in regulations developed under the proposed Act should the Bill receive Royal Assent.

12. How will you mitigate fraudsters who apply for the Benefit?

A compliance and enforcement regime will be further detailed in regulations but could include investigation authorities for the Minister, Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) and offences. Clauses 11(1)(q) through 11(1)(t) would provide the Governor in Council to with the authority to make regulations respecting compliance and enforcement measures.

We want to ensure that persons with disabilities can access the Benefit while still preventing against fraud or abuse. We will continue to engage with the disability community to ensure that we strike this balance and have appropriate compliance and enforcement measures in place.

13. How will those with invisible disabilities be captured and not left behind?

The Government is collecting evidence from its engagement activities, to inform the details of the Benefit, including eligibility criteria. While disability is not defined in the Bill, Clause 11 (1)(a) of the Bill would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting eligibility criteria for the proposed Benefit.

Based on the feedback received so far, the criteria will be developed with an eye to targeting those most in need regardless of disability type or whether a disability is visible or invisible, ensuring nationwide portability and fairness across provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and maintaining ease of access.

14. How will the effectiveness of the Benefit be measured?

Measuring the Benefit’s effectiveness will involve the development of a number of performance indicators based on available data sources such as the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) as well as new Statistics Canada quality of life measurements. Indicators would also be informed by Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and the increase in the percentage of persons with disabilities raised above the Canada’s Official Poverty Line.

As a component of the broader Disability Inclusion Action Plan, ESDC is also committed to working with persons with disabilities and the broader disability community to address disability data gaps and take a more coordinated and horizontal approach to federal data collection and dissemination activities. These efforts will also inform how the effectiveness of the Benefit is measured.

15. What will the definition of disability be?

a) Will the modernized definition of disability, which is a part of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), be used to establish eligibility for the CDB? 

While disability is not defined in the Bill, there will be eligibility criteria in the regulations. Adding a definition of disability to the bill would confine the development of eligibility options.

Instead the Government is collecting evidence from its engagement activities to inform the details of the Benefit, including eligibility criteria. Based on the feedback received so far, the criteria will be developed with an eye to targeting those most in need, ensuring nationwide portability and fairness across provincial and territorial jurisdictions, and maintaining ease of access. In addition, Budget 2021 provided 11.9 million over 3 years starting in 2021 to 2022 to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits. Engagement is underway for this process.

16. Will the CDB replace existing income supports such as CPPD or social assistance?

The CDB aims to reduce poverty by supplementing existing federal and provincial-territorial (P/T) income measures for working-age persons with disabilities rather than replacing P/T social assistance for persons with disabilities or the supports that are linked to its receipt (for example, prescription drug coverage, other aids and services).

It would aim to promote increased financial security by providing additional income for those who may already be in receipt of benefits, and potential new income support to some individuals who are not currently receiving benefits. We want to ensure recipients are better off as a result of receiving this Benefit.

Coordination with Provincial/Territorial benefits

17. Have you negotiated with provinces and territories on the coordination of this Benefit so as not to interfere with provincial benefits?

The aim of the proposed Benefit is to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities. With this in mind, the Government is committed to continue working closely with provinces and territories on the design of the Benefit.

In an initial meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services took place in July 2021 where Ministers committed to work together to improve outcomes for persons with disabilities.

I am meeting with provinces and territories both multilaterally and bilaterally, before finalizing regulations, to discuss harmonizing provincial and territorial benefits with the new Canada Disability Benefit. 

I am confident that this approach will leave room for genuine and meaningful discussion around all governments working together to ensure that persons with disabilities are better off as a result of the Benefit.

18. Will the federal government rely on provincial records to qualify applicants?

Clause 11 (1)(a) of the Bill would provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations respecting eligibility criteria for the proposed Benefit. Eligibility criteria will be further detailed in regulations developed under the proposed Act.

Provinces and territories play a critical role in providing benefits and supports to Canadians with disabilities. We are engaging provinces and territories as well as the disability community in the development of regulations made under the Act should the Bill receive Royal Assent.

As you are aware, this Committee tabled the report entitled "Disability Support Benefits" in the House of Commons on May 31, 2022. In the report, the Committee called upon the Government to consider the possibility of codifying all people who receive provincial/territorial support for their disability as persons with disabilities in order to facilitate the ease of payment of the future CDB. In my response back to the Committee (presented to the House of September 28,2022), I had noted that eligibility for these programs and supports vary in terms of the requirements for duration and severity of the disability and the ability to work and to align with the differing objectives of each programs. The Government will continue to consider all options for eligibility to establish a fair, accessible and efficient national disability benefit, noting using provincial and territorial eligibility would raise considerations around equity, cost, and administration that would need to be further assessed.

19. Will the Benefit be paid through provinces/territories or directly to individuals?

It is anticipated that the Benefit will be paid directly to individuals from the Government of Canada.

20. How will the CDB interact with P/T benefits?

Provinces and territories play a critical role in providing benefits and supports to Canadians with disabilities. We are engaging provinces and territories to understand how the new federal Benefit may interact with existing provincial and territorial income-tested programs, including social assistance. We are seeking input on possible designs and features in order to avoid any unintended impacts to provincial and territorial income-tested benefits.

21. Will the negotiation with P/Ts respect their primary jurisdiction over disability income benefits?

The current system of income supports and benefits for working-age persons with disabilities is complex and diverse. Provinces and territories and the Government of Canada each play a significant role. 

My plan is to work with provinces and territories to reach a clear agreement on how this Benefit and provincial and territorial benefits can be harmonized to maximize assistance to persons with disabilities so that we can meet our objective of reducing poverty amongst working age persons with disabilities.

22. Will the CDB provide the same level of benefits throughout Canada or will there be variations among P/Ts and/or economic regions?

The goal of the Benefit is to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities. Recognizing the existing landscape of benefits available in provinces and territories, I am working with my counterparts to ensure that individuals are not negatively affected by the Benefit and that the Benefit is portable across Canada.

Text of the Bill

23. Why was the text of the Bill not updated to reflect concerns?

The Canada Disability Benefit Act was originally introduced in Parliament as Bill C-35 on June 22, 2021 and reintroduced as Bill C-22 in June of this year. The text of these 2 bills is the same as we are confident that our approach—of establishing the Benefit through framework legislation—will best ensure that persons with disabilities, other stakeholders as well as provinces and territories can inform the Benefit’s design.

I was pleased to see that all parties supported Bill C-22 at second reading and I look forward to further debate on the Bill. I am confident that, given the support during second reading, parliamentarians will come together to make sure that we address the issue of poverty amongst working-age persons with disabilities. 

24. Why are most of the details regarding the Canada Disability Benefit left to regulations?

This approach is intentional.

We have tried to strike a balance between getting a benefit in place to meet the immediate needs of persons with disabilities living in poverty, while at the same time building in flexibility to ensure persons with disabilities can be involved in the creation of a program that is going to impact their lives.

The principle of "Nothing without Us" is embedded in our commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (article 4.3) as well as in the Accessible Canada Act (preamble). This commitment means that it is imperative that the Government engage with people with disabilities and the disability community to ensure their perspectives are reflected in the design of this Benefit. In many ways, this is suggesting a different way of doing business in Government. In designing this approach, paramount in my thinking has been making sure we create time and space so that persons with disabilities and stakeholder organizations can be genuinely engaged and involved in the design process.  And using the regulatory mechanism also provides the opportunity to involve persons with disabilities in the regulatory management process as well after the passage of the regulations. This will bake into the process the involvement of persons with disabilities and truly realize our commitments under the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Accessible Canada Act to "Nothing Without Us".

Given the complex system of benefits and supports for persons with disabilities in Canada, engaging provinces and territories and other stakeholders will be key to the Benefit’s success.

Importantly too, using regulations for benefit elements, such as eligibility, also recognizes that disability is an evolving social construct. This approach will allow for more flexibility as our understanding of disability evolves in the future.

Using regulations for key benefit elements to maximize flexibility is also similar to the approach taken for provincial/territorial social assistant programs. For example, New Brunswick’s recent regulatory amendments under the Family Income Security Act provided an updated definition of "deaf" in response to recommendations from the disability community and stakeholders. Bill C-22 provides us with this type of flexibility so that we can quickly adjust to the evolving needs of the disability community, who know their needs best.

25. Confusion in French terms used: "en situation de handicap", "vivant avec un handicap", "handicapée" and "invalidité" and "incapacité"

The definition and language regarding disability is an evolving construct driven by the experience and perspectives of persons with disabilities. This means terms related to disability have changed in both French and English over the past decades. 

It is important to note that a disability is a functional limitation or restriction of an individual’s ability to perform an activity. The word "disabled" is an adjective, not a noun. People are not conditions. It is therefore preferable not to use the term "the disabled" but rather "people with disabilities." This is called "person first language"; however, individuals may have different preferences when discussing their disability. 

In French, the term "personnes en situation de handicap" is often used to designate a person who faces barriers to accessibility in everyday life. The term "personnes handicapées" is also used in French and is the term used in most recent Canadian law, such as the Accessible Canada Act and the Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrictions Act. This is the reason why the 2 terms are used in the French version of the Bill: the reflect the most current term generally used and the most current term used in law. Outside of the Bill, other labels in French, such as "invalidité" and "incapacité," are occasionally used in reference to the names of specific laws or programs created in the past—this language is a legacy of how disability has been defined and named as a medical construct rather than a social one.

26. Will Parliament be provided an opportunity to review regulations and provide input?

The Bill provides the Governor in Council with the authority to develop regulations. However, regulations are developed through a rigorous and transparent process. In the spirit of "Nothing without Us" persons with disabilities will be engaged throughout the regulatory development process. For example, this process could include a pre-publication consultation with persons with disabilities and the disability community. This engagement stage has already started with community-led engagement, as well, the Government will be hosting additional roundtables.

Following pre-consultation, the draft regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette Part I to allow for public comment on the proposed draft regulations. This process will allow for the disability community, and the general public, to comment on a draft of the proposed regulations. Depending on the extent of public comment, the draft regulations can then be revised and published again or published in the Canada Gazette Part II and come into force.

The intent is to ensure that persons with disabilities and the disability community will be engaged throughout the regulatory development process, while still moving as quickly as possible so that the Benefit can be delivered to Canadians without delay.

27. When will the Bill come into force?

Clause 14 of the Bill states that the Act would come into force at a date to be set by the Governor in Council.

I know that many Canadians are in desperate need of the support and financial security that this Benefit will provide. Our goal is to implement the proposed Benefit as soon as possible while still adhering the disability community’s "Nothing without us". It is crucial that we get this right and include the disability community throughout the process.

28. Why does Bill C-22 include an amendment to the Income Tax Act?

An amendment to the Income Tax Act is being proposed to allow for the sharing of taxpayer information from the Canadian Revenue Agency to the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada for the purposes of administering the Benefit or for the evaluation or formulation of policy related to the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Act.

Employment

29. Will entering the workforce leave persons with disabilities worse off?

The preamble of Bill C-22 states that, "persons with disabilities often face barriers to employment, including work disincentives such as the loss of income and other benefits as a result of becoming employed".

We have heard through our engagement that ensuring the design of the Benefit doesn’t disincentive work is a critical issue for persons with disabilities and the disability community. We will continue to engage with the disability community on this and other design issues.

Our aim is to harmonize the CDB with other federal, provincial and territorial benefits and supports to ensure that persons with disabilities are better off as a result of this new Benefit.

30. Will there be an employment assistance component to the Benefit for people living with disabilities who are employed

The proposed Benefit is intended to be a supplement, as such it is not intended to replace social assistance or employment assistance offered by provincial governments. 

However, the Government is committed to removing barriers to employment. Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan was released on October 7, 2022. Pillar 2 of the Action Plan focuses on Employment and the development and implementation of Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. The Employment Strategy will:

• help persons with disabilities find and keep good jobs
• help persons with disabilities advance in their careers or become entrepreneurs
• support employers as they develop inclusive workplaces, and
• aid organizations and individuals who support persons with disabilities in employment

Actions under the Employment Pillar of the Action plan also include:

• investing more than $270 million in new funding through the Opportunities Fund for persons with disabilities
• creating a Disability Inclusion Business Council to advise me and act as national champions for disability inclusion within the business community
• launching a National Veterans Employment Strategy with a goal of ensuring all Veterans, including those with disabilities, find meaningful work on release from the Canadian Armed Forces
• modernizing the Employment Equity Act by reducing inequalities and barriers to employment in federal workplaces
• improving supports for Canada Pension Plan Disability beneficiaries in their attempts to return to work by designing a Return-to-Work Pilot Project
• embedding disability inclusion within ESDC’s existing labour market programs

31. Will the Benefit be an incentive or a disincentive to find work?

The preamble of Bill C-22 states that, "persons with disabilities often face barriers to employment, including work disincentives such as the loss of income and other benefits as a result of becoming employed". Our aim is to harmonize the CDB with other federal, provincial and territorial benefits to make sure that people are not worse off as a result of this Benefit, including if they find work.

One of the 4 pillars of the Government of Canada’s recently launched Disability Inclusion Action Plan focuses on removing barriers to employment for persons with disabilities. To support this objective, we are investing more than $270 million in additional disability employment supports through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities and taking other concrete steps towards equal employment opportunity.

The engagement process to inform the design of the Benefit, key concern we heard from persons with disabilities and the disability community was that the Benefit needs to be designed so that it doesn’t disincentive work. We will continue to engage with the disability community on this and other design issues.

Consultations

32. Have consultations begun or are you waiting for the Bill to receive royal assent?

Building on the consultations on the Accessible Canada consultations (2016) and the National Disability Summit (2019), consultations for the CDB started in June 2021. In the spirit of "Nothing Without Us," where persons with disabilities are to be included in the development of policies and programs that affect their lives, the design of the proposed CDB is being informed by ongoing stakeholder engagement. There have been a number of engagement activities to date:

• a DIAP Online Consultation Survey (which ran between June 4, 2021 and September 30, 2021) and included questions on the CDB This engagement included an online survey that received input from approximately 8,600 Canadians

Four DIAP/CDB roundtables: 

• roundtable with Minister Qualtrough, MP Ryan Turnbull and Disability Organizations to launch online survey (June 4, 2021)
• roundtable with the Prime Minister, Minister Qualtrough and Persons with Disabilities (June 25, 2021)
• roundtable with Minister Qualtrough and Disability Without Poverty (July 27, 2021)
• roundtable with Minister Qualtrough and Disability Organizations (July 28, 2021)

Four CDB roundtables:  

• roundtable with Disability Researchers and Academics (January 14, 2022)
• roundtable with Organizations who work with members of Racialized Communities (January 28, 2022)
• roundtable with National Disability Organizations (February 15, 2022)
• roundtable with Disability Service Providers (February 28, 2022) 

Additionally, community-led engagement and Indigenous-led engagement is taking place on a separate track. It is anticipated that community-led engagement, currently underway, could take place until spring 2023, while Indigenous-led engagement could continue until 2023/2024. As well, the Minister’s Disability Advisory Group (MDAG) has played a large role in providing advice on the proposed Benefit. All of this input and advice is vital to inform the development and implementation of the proposed Canada Disability Benefit.

Throughout our engagement with the disability community I have been reassured that the framework approach provided for in Bill C-22 is the most appropriate way to provide for engagement with the disability community, respecting the principle of "Nothing without Us", while still working to implement the proposed Benefit as quickly as possible. 

33. Will there be an impact on benefits from private insurance?

The income landscape for persons working-age persons with disabilities is complex. Often, working-age persons with disabilities receive income or assistance from a number of different sources including employment, provincial, territorial and federal governments, private insurance, and worker’s compensation.

Our aim is to ensure that Canadians with disabilities will be better off because of this Benefit. That is why an extensive engagement process was launched with a broad range of stakeholders, including with the private insurance sector. This engagement has provided an opportunity to better understand the complicated benefit landscape in Canada and the various roles of the many different players, including the role of the private insurance sector in providing income replacement to insured persons. This engagement also provided us with an opportunity to better explain the objective of the CDB as a social measure to help address poverty in Canada. This engagement will continue throughout the regulatory development process as well.

34. Can temporary measures be put in place while holding consultations on improving those measures?

This would require additional processes and procedures that would distract from the development and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit. Rather, the Government of Canada is focusing on getting the proposed Benefit out of the door as quickly as possible.

35. Have the distinct needs of Indigenous populations been considered in the design and delivery of the CDB?

We know that First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples in Canada continue to experience disability at a rate much higher than that of the general population. Given these high rates, disability issues remain a key priority for First nation, Metis and Inuit governments and communities and for Canada in its ongoing commitment to reconciliation.

This is why we launched a targeted process in 2022 to provide funding to National Indigenous Organizations to seek their guidance and advice on developing and implementing the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, including the CDB. In addition, we are taking a distinctions-based approach in which we are engaging directly with Modern Treaty Holders. This engagement will continue through the next year.

We will continue our engagement with First Nation, Metis and Inuit communities on their distinct needs as we move forward with designing and delivering the CDB.

36. Have holders of Modern Treaties and Self-Government Agreements been engaged on the design and delivery implementation of the Benefit?

We recognize that National Indigenous Organizations do not represent holders of Modern Treaty and Self-Government agreements. In order to respect the government-to-government relationships embedded in Modern Treaties and Self-Government agreements, in Autumn 2022, we sent letters to holders of Modern Treaties and Self-Government agreements to request their input into the design and delivery of the CDB. This input will be considered in the design and implementation of the CDB.

37. How can the disability community stay engaged the design of the CDB?

With the principle of "Nothing Without Us" as a priority, the Government will continue to engage with persons with disabilities, provincial and territorial governments and other stakeholders to inform the design of the Benefit. As well, the regulatory process will provide further opportunities to engage and consult on the design parameters of the Benefit. In addition to the regular consultation through a regulatory process, my department will ensure to hold additional roundtables and community engagement.

Additionally, community-led engagement and Indigenous-led engagement is taking place on a separate track. It is anticipated that community-led engagement, currently underway, could take place until Spring 2023, while Indigenous-led engagement could continue until 2023 and 2024.

My current concern is not that the disability community will lack opportunities to be engaged on the design of the CDB. Rather, I want to provide a means of engagement that that is appropriate and respects the capacity of the community to share their expertise. While we need to continue to engage with the disability community, we also need to be mindful that the community’s capacity to be involved is not stretched too thin. The regulatory process also provides a full circle process to be involved- so not just in the design of the regulations, but in their ongoing management too. This will truly bring the principle of "Nothing Without Us" to life for the Benefit.

Economic Impact

38. Won’t the CDB just cause inflation?

We have heard through our consultations on the Benefit that many Canadians with disabilities are facing unimaginable choices on a daily basis, like whether to purchase the medications they need to manage their pain or, instead, to use that money to buy food for themselves and their families. This situation has only worsened as the cost of living has increased.

The Canada Disability Benefit will help to ensure that they no longer have to make these choices. It will provide increased economic security and increased certainly, but also a sense of stability and peace of mind.

39. What are the spill over-effects of the Bill into the economy?

The CDB will give persons with disabilities added financial security. This tends to have positive impacts on people – for example, their health may be better because they don’t have to make impossible choices between food and medication and they can contemplate training or labour market participation. Paired with the Government’s Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities, it has the potential to bring significantly more people into the labour market which will, in turn, have significant impacts on the Canadian economy. Estimates suggest that addressing barriers to employment for Canadians with disabilities could generate direct economic benefits as high as 4.0% of GDP.

In addition, the CDB is expected to stimulate significant spending in local economies given the immense and immediate financial needs of the population it is intended to serve. The Benefit targets working age persons with disabilities living in poverty and experience from other benefit programs suggests that the CDB will be spent directly in communities on necessities like housing, food, and health that many people simple cannot afford now because of their economic situation.

40. Is the objective to reduce poverty for working-age Canadians with disabilities, or to eliminate it?

The Benefit will be designed to supplement existing programs in a manner that reduces poverty among the eligible population as much as possible.

However, it is important to understand that poverty is a complex and multifaceted problem. Poverty not only incorporates a lack of income but also a lack of access to essential resources such as: nutritious foods, decent housing, cultural activities, comprehensive healthcare and recreational activities.

While the CDB is intended to increase the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities, for some individuals, poverty extends beyond inadequate income and eliminating poverty goes beyond that of an income supplement.

Our Government has released new measures that will make life more affordable for millions of Canadians, including:

• enhancements to the Canada Workers Benefit
• 10% increase to Old Age Security
• affordable early learning and child care
• affordable housing initiatives, including a 1-time tax-free payment of $500
• dental care for Canadians
• doubling the Goods and Services Tax Credit for 6 months and Help for Canadians while fighting climate change

Other topics related to Canadians living with disabilities

41. What is the government doing to address the issue of Canadians living below the poverty line or not meeting their basic needs from seeking MAiD?

On March 17, 2021, the additional changes to Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation came into force. These changes removed the requirement that a patient’s natural death be "reasonable foreseeable," a change that aims to satisfy a September 2019 Quebec Superior Court ruling that deemed parts of the previous federal and provincial laws on assisted dying unconstitutional. When these changes were proposed, the federal government committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to enhance disability supports.

However, people in the disability community have been vocal regarding the impact the recent MAiD changes have had on persons with disabilities. Many in the disability community have noted that MAiD has highlighted that too many Canadians with disabilities face barriers to accessing the supports and services they need to live with dignity.

The Government of Canada is committed to ensure the full social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. On October 7, 2022, the Government released Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Action plan is a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to disability inclusion. It embeds disability considerations across our programs while identifying targeted investments in key areas to drive change. It builds on existing programs and measures that have sought to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and establishes new and meaningful actions. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan has 5 key objectives:

1. improve the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities
2. reduce poverty among persons with disabilities
3. achieve the Accessible Canada Act goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040
4. develop a consistent approach to disability inclusion across the Government of Canada and make it easier for persons with disabilities to access federal programs and services, and
5. foster a culture of disability inclusion

The proposed Canada Disability Benefit is the cornerstone of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and will support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities.

42. Would a universal guaranteed livable income be easier to administer?

The purpose of the proposed Benefit is to reduce poverty among working-age persons with disabilities. This focus is to address a long-standing inequality and gap in the social safety net. As well, our goal in designing the Benefit has been to supplement, rather than replace, existing benefits and supports.

Throughout our engagement process, we have heard from the disability community that many persons with disabilities face barriers when applying for disability supports and benefits. Our aim would be to make the application process for this Benefit as simple as possible. Persons with disabilities and the disability community will continue to be engaged, including throughout the regulatory process to ensure that the application process for the proposed Benefit is as simple and seamless as possible.

43. Will the government change the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan to allow greater access or to benefit those living in poverty?

The purpose of Bill C-22 is to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age Canadians with disabilities through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit. The bill does not propose changes to the DTC or to the RDSP or any other federal benefit or program.

1. Canada Disability Benefit

Commitment text: Move forward with the design, introduction and implementation of a Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit for low-income working age persons with disabilities

2. Employment Strategy for Canadians with disabilities

Commitment text: Launching an employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities

3. Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Commitment text: Finalize and release Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, in consultation with the disability community, with early actions in key areas of financial security and employment, creating disability-inclusive spaces and adopting a modern approach to and common definition of disability across the Government of Canada

Disability Inclusion Action Plan progress to date

I released Canada’s first ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan on October 7, 2022.

A blueprint for change, our plan will ensure that 4 main pillars are addressed:

• financial security
• employment
• accessible and inclusive communities; and
• taking a modern approach to disability in government programs and services

The release of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan builds on the early investments already made to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities:

• $11.9 million over 3 years to support the development of a modernized process for determining eligibility for disability programs that will also support the development of the Canada Disability Benefit
• $129.2 million over 2 years, starting in 2021 to 2022 for the Enabling Accessibility Fund
• $65 million in 2021 to 2022 for the Opportunities Fund and other funding for employment supports
• measures to improve financial security for students with disabilities
• improvements to the Disability Tax Credit; and
• $12 million over 3 years, starting in 2021 to 2022, for the production of alternative format materials

We also committed to taking actions in key areas through Budget 2022, including the following:

• $272.6 million over 5 years to support implementation of the Employment Strategy through the Opportunities Fund. This will help to address labour market shortages through increased participation by persons with disabilities and make workplaces more inclusive and accessible
  • $20 million of this funding will be allocated to the Ready, Willing and Able program to help persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder or intellectual disabilities
• $25 million over 5 years to promote the economic and social inclusion of persons with print disabilities and help to create a barrier-free Canada through the following measures:
  •  the production of alternative format materials by the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the National Network for Equitable Library Services
  • research to better understand gaps in availability of accessible reading materials, and
  • a new Equitable Access to Reading Program to boost the production of accessible format reading materials through innovative partnerships
• advancing $2.9 billion under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund to speed up housing construction and repair for vulnerable Canadians
• introducing a Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which would provide up to $7,500 in support for constructing a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability
• $5.3 billion over 5 years and $1.7 billion ongoing to provide dental care for Canadians, including children, seniors and persons with disabilities, starting in 2023, with full implementation by 2025
• doubling the qualifying expense limit of the Home Accessibility Tax Credit to $20,000 for the 2022 and subsequent tax years. This will mean a tax credit of up to $3,000—an increase from the previous tax credit of up to $1,500—for important accessibility renovations or alterations

Last summer, in keeping with the Government’s commitment to the principle of "Nothing Without Us," we engaged with the disability community through roundtable discussions, bilateral discussions, and an online public engagement survey that received approximately 8,600 responses.

• Overwhelmingly, respondents indicated the importance of measures to improve the financial security of persons with disabilities so that they may experience levels of inclusion in all the areas of our society on an equal basis as others

I also met virtually with provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for social services to brief my counterparts on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the proposed Canada Disability Benefit. Federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers committed to work together to improve the well-being of persons with disabilities across Canada.

Last December, through the Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability component’s project funding stream, Independent Living Canada was selected as recipient of $650,000 to lead cross-Canada engagement with the disability community on the design and implementation of key initiatives under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

4. Access to federal disability programs

Commitment text: Undertaking a comprehensive review of access to federal disability programs, including for Canadians with mental health challenges.

5. Capacity in national disability organizations

Commitment text: Supporting national disability organizations to build capacity and partner in efforts to eliminate systemic barriers.

6. Access for Canadians with print disabilities

Commitment text: Advancing our commitment to permanently fund support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities.

7. Accessible Canada Act and accessibility standards

Commitment text: Proceeding with the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act and the harmonization of accessibility standards across Canada.

Table of Contents

HUMA Membership

Chad Collins (LPC)

Michael Coteau (LPC)

Wayne Long (LPC)

Soraya Martinez Ferrada (LPC)

Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey (LPC)

Tony Van Bynen (LPC)

Rosemarie Falk (CPC)

Michelle Ferreri (CPC)

Tracy Gray (CPC)

Scott Aitchison (CPC)

Bonita Zarrillo (NDP)

Louise Chabot (BQ)

Committee members biography (header not included in original binder)

Chad Collins Liberal Party Hamilton East—Stoney Creek - Ontario

Brief biography

Chad Collins was first elected to the House of Commons for Hamilton East - Stoney Creek on September 20, 2021. A lifelong resident of Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, Chad resides in the Davis Creek area with his wife Mary and 2 children, Chase and Reese. He attended Glendale Secondary School, the University of Western Ontario, and McMaster University. Chad was first elected to City Council in 1995, at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest elected representatives in the City's history.

Chad is passionate about engaging local residents and community stakeholders, focusing on revitalization of infrastructure, development of social housing and stream-lining municipal programs.

As President of City Housing Hamilton, Chad has been committed to addressing the City's aging affordable housing stock by pressuring all levels of government to invest in the much needed repair of over 7,000 publicly owned units. He continues to work on nearly a dozen new projects across the City and in the riding that will provide new affordable housing units to those in need.

From the creation and development of new community parks and trails to the opening of a new food bank, Chad knows community consultation is an integral part of improving quality of life for everyone in Hamilton East - Stoney Creek.

Of note:

• Key issues of interest:
  • affordable housing

Michael Coteau Liberal Party Don Valley East – Ontario

Brief biography

Michael Coteau was first elected to the House of Commons for Don Valley East on September 20, 2021. He has served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East since 2011. During his time in the Ontario government, his ministerial roles include: Minister of Children and Youth Services; Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism; Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games; and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Prior to entering the provincial government, Michael was elected as a school board trustee for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2003, 2006 and 2010. As a trustee, Michael advocated for student nutrition, community use of space and the use of educational technology. He initiated the ‘Community Use of Schools’ motion that drastically cut user fees and made schools more accessible to groups that offer programs for children. He helped introduce nutritional changes in schools that supported healthy food programs and increased awareness of student hunger.

Michael worked as an ESL instructor and curriculum developer before becoming a community organizer for a United Way agency in Scarborough. He was also the Marketing Manager for ABC Life Literacy, where he was responsible for the organizing of the Family Literacy Day across Canada, and was Executive Director of Alpha Plus, a national literacy organization mandated to support adult education through the use of technology.

Michael grew up in Don Valley East and attended Don Mills Middle School and Victoria Park Collegiate Institute. He holds a degree from Carleton University in Political Science and Canadian History. He and his wife Lori live in Toronto with their 2 daughters, Maren and Myla.

Of note:

• spent 10 years in the Ontario legislature

Key issues of interest:

• low-income families

Wayne Long Liberal Party Saint John — Rothesay - New Brunswick

Brief biography

Wayne Long was first elected to the House of Commons for Saint John — Rothesay in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He is a member of the Saint John community with national and international business experience. Wayne currently serves as President of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and his efforts have helped turn the team into one of Canada’s most successful CHL hockey franchises winning the cherished Memorial Cup in 2011. That same year, Wayne was recognized with the John Horman Trophy, awarded to the Top Executive in the QMJHL.

Prior to his work with the Sea Dogs, Wayne was President of Scotiaview Seafood Inc. He was also a successful large-scale product manager with Stolt Sea Farm Inc. Wayne’s work has seen him travel across North America, negotiating contracts with national restaurant distributors, restaurant chains, and retail chains. He earned the North American Excellence in Sales and Marketing award twice. Wayne is a former Board Member for Destination Marketing and Salmon Marketing.

Wayne was born in the riding, and currently calls the area home alongside his wife, Denise, and their 2 children, Khristian and Konnor.

Of note:

• has been a member of HUMA since the beginning of the 42nd Parliament (2015)

Key issues of interest:

• poverty
• mental health
• outspoken support of the Energy East oil pipeline project
• previously broken ranks with party (Energy East, tax policy, SNC-Lavalin) which resulted in being kicked off House committees as punishment
• frequently makes sports parallel (hockey)
• government programs and support that benefit his constituents

Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Party PS for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing) Hochelaga – Québec

Brief biography

Soraya Martinez Ferrada was first elected to the House of Commons for Hochelaga in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in 20219 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport in 2021. She has also served on the Standing Committee on Official Languages in the last Parliament.

She is a proud resident of the east end of Montréal. Originally from Chile, her family settled in the area in the 1980s. Soraya has deep roots in the community where she currently resides with her son and daughter.

Before being elected, Soraya worked for more than 20 years in the community where she specialized in communications and developed multiple cultural and political projects. Among her achievements, she created the very first cultural and socio-professional integration program at TOHU, a unique example of sustainable development in Montréal.

In 2005, she was elected as a city councillor and appointed by the mayor to the position of Associate Advisor for Culture on the City’s Executive Committee. In 2009, she became Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition at Montréal City Hall. She transitioned to the federal government in 2015 as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

She created the Vedette d’Hochelaga video clips in which she highlights the commitment of citizens, community organizations, and entrepreneurs in the riding of Hochelaga. She has also set up virtual roundtables and regular newsletters that present federal programs directly serving the people of her riding.

Of note:

• Parliamentary Secretary – Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing)

Key issues of interest:

• poverty
• Quebec-focused
• multiculturalism

Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey Liberal Party Egmont Prince Edward Island

Brief biography

In 2015, Bobby was elected to the House of Commons and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He served as a Member on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, as well as the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Previously, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly in 1982 and has dedicated his career and volunteer life to serving the residents of PEI.

Having served as MLA for nearly 20 years, Bobby has a deep understanding of his communities’ needs. He has held a number of high-profile roles within the Assembly, such as Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Opposition House Leader. He was also responsible for the redevelopment of the Canadian Forces Base Summerside and the surrounding community following its closure by the federal government in 1989. Bobby left politics in 2000 to join the private sector as a consultant specializing in government relations, fisheries, and the labour market. Bobby has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI. He was the founding member and former president of the Tignish Seniors Home Care Co-op, and Vice-Chair of Tignish Special Needs Housing.

Of note:

• Chair of HUMA
• former member of HUMA in 2019 (briefly before the general election)

Tony Van Bynen Liberal Party Newmarket — Aurora – Ontario

Brief biography

Tony Van Bynen was first elected to the House of Commons for Newmarket-Aurora in 2019 and re-elected 2021. A resident of Newmarket for over 40 years, Tony and his wife Roxanne raised their 2 daughters there.

Community service, volunteerism, and helping those who need it most is what drives Tony every day. He and Roxanne have volunteered at the Southlake Hospital, and the Inn from the Cold, for over 10 years. They also deliver food for the Newmarket Food Bank, and Tony was instrumental in creating Belinda’s Place, which is a multi-purpose facility for homeless and at-risk women.

He also had the privilege of serving as the Mayor of Newmarket for 12 years. During that time, community building is what guided Tony on his mission to revitalize Main Street, renew the historic Old Town Hall, and build the Riverwalk Commons so families and friends can enjoy great public places.

Through his previous role as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and his 30-year career in banking, Tony understands what local businesses need to thrive and grow. He’s delivered innovative solutions to help local business owners find success, including creating the Envi broadband network, so businesses in the community have ultra-high-speed connectivity, which has been particularly crucial during the pandemic.

Of note:

• Key issues of interest:
  • focused studies to help Canadians, especially getting through the pandemic

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Party Associate Labour Critic - Battlefords-Lloydminster Saskatchewan

Brief biography

Rosemarie Falk is the Conservative candidate for Battlefords-Lloydminster. Rosemarie was born and raised in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Along with her husband Adam, she is now raising her children there. She has always been actively engaged in her community. Throughout her social work career and extensive volunteer work she has worked with some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Rosemarie was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election on December 11, 2017. Prior to this, Rosemarie worked as a registered Social Worker in Saskatchewan and has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary. She also has experience as a legal assistant specializing in family law and as a legislative assistant in federal politics.

In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Associate Shadow Minister for Labour and Associate Labour Critic.

Of note:

• she has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities
• Rosemarie is committed to being a strong voice for seniors, families, taxpayers and rural communities
• Associate Critic-Labour in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Michelle Ferreri Conservative Party, Families, Children and Social Development Critic - Peterborough—Kawartha, Ontario

Brief Biography

Michelle is the Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha and was elected in the 2021 federal election. Michelle was appointed as Shadow Minister for Tourism as part of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet for the 44th Parliament. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Minister for Families, Children and Social Development.

Prior to being elected, Michelle was a well-known community advocate, an award-winning entrepreneur, a committed volunteer, and a highly sought-after public speaker and social media marketer.

Michelle has over 20 years’ experience in media, marketing and public speaking. During her time as a reporter, one of Michelle’s most memorable experiences was when she had the opportunity to visit the Canadian Forces Base, Alert and fly to the station on a C-17 Globemaster.

Michelle is a graduate of Trent University (Biology/Anthropology) and Loyalist College (Biotechnology). Her education in science has led her to be a passionate advocate for physical and mental health.

She is a proud mother of 3 children, between the ages of 12 and 17, and shares her life with her supportive partner, Ryan, and his 3 daughters.

Of note:

• she is a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women since December 9, 2021
• Michelle is interested in physical and mental health, housing, the economy and food security
• Critic-Families, Children and Social Development in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Tracy Gray Conservative Party, Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Critic - Kelowna—Lake Country, British Columbia

Brief biography

Tracy was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country in October 2019. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. She previously served as Shadow Minister for Interprovincial Trade and as the Shadow Minister for Export Promotion and International Trade.

Tracy has extensive business experience and worked most of her career in the BC beverage industry. She founded and owned Discover Wines VQA Wine Stores, which included the number 1 wine store in BC for 13 years. She is has been involved in small businesses in different sectors including financing, importing, oil and gas service and a technology start-up.

The daughter of a firefighter and Catholic School teacher, Tracy grew up around service and a strong work ethic. She has 1 son and been married for 27 years.

Tracy has received many accolades including RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the year, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award and 100 New Woman Pioneers in BC.

Tracy served with many organisations over the years. She was appointed to serve by BC Cabinet to the Passenger Transportation Board and elected to the Board of Prospera Credit Union for 10 years. In addition, she served on the Okanagan Film Commission, Clubhouse Childcare Society, Okanagan Regional Library Trustee and Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board.

Of note:

• Critic – Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet
• Sponsor: Bill C-283, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (addiction treatment in penitentiaries) and M-46 National Adoption Awareness Month (outside order of precedence)

Scott Aitchison Conservative Party, Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Critic - Parry Sound—Muskoka, Ontario

Brief biography

Scott Aitchison was born and raised in Huntsville, Ontario. After leaving home at 15, Scott was raised by the character of his hometown. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, he was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

Scott was first elected at the age of 21 to Huntsville Town Council. After serving as Town Councillor, District Councillor and Deputy Mayor, he was elected as Mayor of Huntsville in 2014 on a promise of fiscal discipline, responsible governance and excellent customer service. As Mayor, he built a reputation as a consensus-builder relentlessly focused on breaking down barriers and finding solutions.

Of note:

• Critic – Housing and Diversity and Inclusion in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Bonita Zarrillo New Democratic Party Disability Inclusion Critic Port Moody—Coquitlam British Columbia

Brief biography

Bonita Zarrillo was first elected as Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Coquitlam in 2021. She is known to be a voice for equality and drives systemic change that puts people first. She entered public service so she could advocate for working people and to support the needs of the most vulnerable in the community. She championed buy-local as a tool for small businesses to thrive and to enable them to hire locally, challenged pipeline corporations to pay their fair share, and completed a successful housing affordability strategy that generated the most rental housing starts in her region.

On Coquitlam Council, Bonita served on the following: Fraser Health Municipal Government Advisory Council, Multiculturism Advisory Committee, Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee, Universal Access Ability Advisory Committee, and past Board Member for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She sat on the board of 2 local Not-For-Profits that advocate for gender equality and speaks regularly at The Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.

Before being elected to municipal government, Bonita worked in consumer products as a Business Analyst for companies across North America and Europe. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Manitoba, a Human Resource Management Certificate from the University of Calgary and has a Computer Science Degree from CDI Montreal.

Of note:

• pledged to help Canadians through collaborative committee work
• key issues of interest:
  • mental health and suicide prevention
  • women’s issues and gender equality
  • workers’ conditions
  • care economy

Louise Chabot Bloc Québecois Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic Thérèse-De Blainville - Quebec

Brief biography

Member of Parliament in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. She was born in 1955 in Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, is a Quebec trade unionist and politician. She was president of the Centrale des Syndicates du Québec (CSQ) from 2012 to 2018. The organization initially represented nearly 200,000 members, including 130,000 in the education and early childhood sector. She coordinated a major unionization project that resulted in the consolidation of more than 15,000 family day care managers, a first in the union world in Canada.

Of note:

• Critic – Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic
• sponsored the Committee’s study on the Review of the EI Program in 2021; critical of the EI program in general and very outspoken about seasonal workers’ trou noir and inadequate sickness benefits
• interested in seniors’ financial security and their purchasing power
• seek to enact federal anti-scab legislation
• supporter of labour unions – Former president of Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
• member of the consultative committee for Quebec’s Pay Equity Commission
• advocate for increase in health transfers
• respect for provincial jurisdictions
• labour shortages
• nurse by profession
• Critics for Employment and Social Development Canada