On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities I’d like to acknowledge the tireless work and advocacy of Nickel Belt’s disability community to build a more inclusive and accessible Canada for all. Thank you to L'Arche Sudbury, Community Living Greater Sudbury, Sudbury Developmental Services, West Nipissing Association for Community Living (Sturgeon Falls), March of Dimes Canada – Northeast Region​, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Sudbury/Manitoulin, Independent Living Sudbury-Manitoulin, West Nipissing Social Services and so many other partners tirelessly advocating and working with people with disabilities across Nickel Belt communities.

The 2022 Canada Survey on Disability found that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and over report having at least one disability. This represents about eight million people who deserve to be full participants in our communities. Since 2015, the Federal government has made significant progress on the disability front. We passed the Accessible Canada Act, launched the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, and created the positions of a Chief Accessibility Commissioner and Chief Accessibility Officer. We have also invested millions of dollars in over 7,700 local projects across the country to make public spaces, community facilities and workplaces more accessible for persons with disabilities. Since 2016 Nickel Belt has received over $1.4 million in Enabling Accessibility Funding benefitting recipients such as the Municipality of Killarney, the Capreol Legion Branch 179, the Gogama Museum, Camp Norland in Verner, the Chevaliers de Colombs in Field, the Municipality of Markstay-Warren and much more.

Additionally, we are creating more opportunities for persons with disabilities to succeed in the job market through skills training, mentorship and by bringing together employers and employees with disabilities. We’re also on the brink of a historic change for Canadians with disabilities: the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is becoming a reality. This is Canada’s first-ever national benefit for working-age individuals with disabilities. While we are close to seeing the positive impact, we will need cooperation from all sides to ensure this important payment comes to fruition.

My priority, and that of the Federal government, is to ensure that all eligible Canadians with disabilities are better off. While Canada has a complex mix of support systems, Canadians expect governments to collaborate in supporting those who need it most. We’ve been working closely with provinces and territories to make sure the wellbeing of Canadians with disabilities remains central. It’s crucial that people receiving the Canada Disability Benefit don’t lose access to other vital supports. Additionally, we’re simplifying the Disability Tax Credit application process.

The CDB will mark a significant milestone, but this is far from the end. We want to see the combined amount of federal and provincial or territorial income supports for persons with disabilities grow to the level of Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). This benefit also builds on other important federal supports, including the child disability benefits, the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement, Registered Disability Savings Plans, and Canada’s new Dental Care Plan. The Dental Care Plan has already helped over one million Canadians, including persons with disabilities, get affordable dental care, with more than 57,000 eligible Canadians with disabilities having applied to date.

We’re making steady progress toward our goal of creating a barrier-free Canada by 2040, and I want to take a moment to thank the community for their continued advocacy and unwavering commitment. While there's still work ahead, together, we are moving in the right direction. The CDB is a stepping stone in this journey to ensure no one is left behind. Today, and everyday, let’s ensure our communities are inclusive, caring, and properly supported for all.