Question Period Note: ADVANCING THE DISABILITY INCLUSION ACTION PLAN

What is the Government doing to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities? What is included in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan?

• The inclusion of persons with disabilities benefits everyone. When Canadians with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to their communities, we build a stronger economy and country.
• That is why the Government released Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (Action Plan) in October 2022, with four pillars:
o financial security,
o employment,
o accessible and inclusive communities, and
o adopting a modern approach to disability.
• The Action Plan was developed in the spirit of Nothing without Us, through engagement with the disability community.

• The Government has made significant progress:
o The Canada Disability Benefit Act came into force in June 2024 and the regulations came into force on May 15, 2025. It is an important step towards increasing the financial and social security of working age persons with disabilities;
o Launched a new Equitable Access to Reading Program in 2024 to support the production of alternate format reading materials for persons with print disabilities;
o Made significant investments in the Opportunities Fund to support employment for persons with disabilities;
o Published new standards under the Accessible Canada Act;
o Launched the Canadian Business Disability Inclusion Network, a national network of businesses that supports an accessible Canada
o Launched the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities in July 2024.
o Made significant investments in the Enabling Accessibility Fund to improve the accessibility of shelters, childcare spaces, communities and workplaces;
o Launched the new Disability Benefits Navigation Program (Navigation Services) to support community-based services to help people with disabilities access disability benefits, including the Disability Tax Credit and the new Canada Disability Benefit
• The second DIAP annual update was released March 17th, 2025 and highlights the actions accomplished from November 2023 to December 2024. The first and second annual updates are available online.
• The Action Plan will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement and will reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world.

The government has involved persons with disabilities in developing, implementing and monitoring the Action Plan by providing funding to support disability organizations and National Indigenous Organizations to engage their communities. So far we have heard:
• The need for a broader agenda to increase financial security among persons with disabilities beyond the Canada Disability Benefit;
• Staff shortages are leading to less training and on-boarding of persons with disabilities;
• More funding for job coaches is needed to keep up with demand as more persons with disabilities enter the labour market;
• More “disability confident” employers are needed to commit to hiring persons with disabilities;
• The need to address longer standing architectural barriers such as retrofitting hospitals, parking centres and office buildings;
• The need for technological upgrades in public spaces;
• Measures to reduce the application burden to qualify and/or re-quality for benefits;
• Navigators support is needed in all steps of an application, review and appeals process; and,
• The use of the Accessible Canada Act definition of disability.

The government provided funding to National Indigenous Organizations to engage on the design and implementation of the Action Plan. To date the following recommendations were received from two National Indigenous Organizations:
• a need for culturally relevant supports, services, programming, and education; and,
• a need to strengthen existing services and safe spaces to make them more accessible.

Engagement work is still ongoing with three National Indigenous Organizations (NIO). In Fall 2022, five NIOs signed amendments to Engagement Protocol Agreements (EPA) to support engagement on the design and implementation of the DIAP. Three additional NIOs signed EPAs in early 2024. To date, two recommendation reports have been received and six more are expected by Spring 2025.

IF PRESSED (THE ACTION PLAN)
• The lived experiences of persons with disabilities have informed every part of the Action Plan. We heard about the valuable contributions that persons with disabilities make to our communities and to our economy. We heard that persons with disabilities face barriers to social and economic participation due to discrimination, stereotypes, and systemic exclusion. We heard about persons with disabilities having to make impossible choices – whether to buy food, pay rent, or get the necessary medication, equipment or therapies. These choices were made even more difficult by the pandemic.
• As we implement the Action Plan, we will continue to look to persons with disabilities and community partners to ensure that it evolves to meet the changing needs of persons with disabilities.
• Leading by example, working in partnership with the disability community, and engaging with provinces and territories, we are confident that we can achieve an inclusive Canada that recognizes and celebrates the diversity, creativity, innovation, and contributions of persons with disabilities.

IF PRESSED (on lack of “disability” in the Minister or Secretary of State titles) /

• The Minister of Jobs and Families is leading ESDC’s policies and programs for persons with disabilities, including the Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are included is everyone’s business.