Question Period Note: Bringing forward a Disability Inclusion Action Plan

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

• The inclusion of persons with disabilities benefits everyone. When Canadians with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to their communities, to have the same quality of service from their government, to have equal opportunities to work, and to enjoy the same quality of life as everyone else, we build a stronger economy and country.

• That is why the Government reaffirmed its commitment to finalize and release Canada’s first-ever Disability Inclusion Action Plan (Action Plan), with early actions in the following key areas:
o financial security,
o employment,
o accessible and -inclusive communities, and
o adopting a modern approach to disability.

• The plan builds on our achievements to date and has been developed in the spirit of Nothing without Us, through engagement with the disability community.

• Work to finalize the first iteration of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan is nearly complete. Once released, the Action Plan will evolve over time to respond to ongoing engagement with persons with disabilities and will reflect the realities of persons with disabilities in an ever-changing world.

• The Government intends to work in close partnership with the disability community to ensure persons with disabilities are involved in ongoing implementation of the Action Plan.

On December 16, 2021, the Prime Minister released Ministerial mandate letters that commits the Government to finalize and release the Action Plan. In addition to measures to be implemented by other ministers, actions will include:

• Moving 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;
• Launching an employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities;
• Undertaking a comprehensive review of access to federal disability programs;
• Supporting national disability organizations to build capacity and partner in efforts to eliminate systemic barriers;
• Advancing our commitment to permanently fund support services that ensure equitable access to reading and other published works for Canadians with print disabilities; and
• Implementing the Accessible Canada Act and the harmonization of accessibility standards across Canada.

Building on past Government actions, the Action Plan marks a renewed focus on advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Actions include:
• Launching DIAP engagement in June 2021.
o A public survey on the DIAP framework was conducted, with 8,600 responses.
• Initiating engagement on the benefit with provinces and territories.
• Early investments in the Action Plan:

Budget 2022
o $276.5 million over five years, and $185 million on going, to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities 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. Of this funding, $20 million will be allocated to the Ready, Willing and Able program to help persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder or intellectual disabilities find employment.
o $25 million over five years to support the production of alternative format materials by the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the National Network for Equitable Library Service; conduct research to better understand gaps in availability of accessible reading materials; and launch a new Equitable Access to Reading
Program to boost the production of accessible format reading materials through innovative partnerships.

Budget 2021
o $11.9 million over three 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;
o $129.2 million over two years, starting in 2021-22 for the Enabling Accessibility Fund;
o $65 million in 2021-22 for the Opportunities Fund and other funding for employment supports;
o measures to improve financial security for students with disabilities;
o improvements to the Disability Tax Credit; and
O $11 million over three years, starting in 2021-2022, for the production and distribution of alternate format materials.

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