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We want to thank all the Members of Parliament who sit on this committee, from all political parties, for their collaboration and cooperation. They have done good work in clarifying and strengthening in the legislation in a few areas.
Now the bill can return to the House of Commons for 3rd Reading. If MPs prioritize this bill for debate it is very possible that it can be passed by the House of Commons before the Christmas break, which is in only three days.
This historic legislation aims to reduce poverty among working-age Canadians with disabilities by providing a nation-wide monthly disability benefit payment. While many Canadians are currently experiencing the struggles of a budget stretched too thin, people with disabilities are unfortunately familiar with this reality, with the current inflation and financial insecurity only making their situation worse. In Canada, more than 70 percent of adults with an intellectual disability live in poverty. The income support they currently receive is already inadequate and that financial support is being stretched further and further in the current environment. With inflation at its highest level in decades, many disability support amounts haven’t risen with inflation and are lagging further and further behind.
We Need Your Help!
There is only three days in the parliamentary sitting before the holiday break. People with disabilities are counting on our elected officials to do what is necessary to end disability poverty.
We need your help to urge your Member of Parliament to pass Bill C-22 in 2022 so we can create the CDB in 2023. What a wonderful holiday gift this would be for people with disabilities in Canada. Let’s make this happen.
We are asking individuals to call or send a letter to their local Members of Parliament for a final push, urging them to prioritize the Bill for passage before Christmas break. We still need to press the importance of this now.
To make this easy, we have prepared a draft letter for you to use and personalize.
And if you would prefer social media - tag your MP or your favourite Leader of any national political party on your social feed: Twitter or Facebook: @theJagmeetSingh @BlocQuebecois @JustinTrudeau @PierrePoilievre .
Urge them to prioritize debate in the next few days and #PassC22In2022
Inclusion Canada is a national federation of 13 provincial/territorial member organizations and over 300 local associations working to advance the full inclusion and human rights of people with an intellectual disability and their families. Inclusion Canada leads the way in building an inclusive Canada for people with an intellectual disability and their families by strengthening families, defending rights, and transforming communities into places where everyone belongs.
Everyone should have the same access to opportunities to lead a regular, fulfilled life: grow up at home with your family; be included in school with friends and peers; immerse in a hobby or sport; have a career; travel; make friends; find a soulmate; have a home of your own; and contribute to your community. These are the common building blocks for life for most people in Canada, and the dreams and aspirations of people with an intellectual disability are no different.
Inclusion only happens when the lives of children and adults with an intellectual disability unfold no differently – immersed together with their peers without a disability in the same pathways and experience of life common to us all.
We know a serious challenge people with an intellectual disability often face is the stereotypes and negative perceptions in response to unique and different ways of learning and communicating.
We are changing this mindset.
We are at the forefront of a national movement of people who believe in an inclusive Canada, one in which people with an intellectual disability and their families are equally valued and fully included in every aspect of community life. We are a grassroots family-based association with representation from across Canada, working in collaboration with our federation members and other national partners and disability organizations who share our vision of a Canada where everyone belongs.
We are strengthening families by helping them create a vision for an inclusive life for their family member with an intellectual disability and then supporting them to make that dream a reality. We are transforming communities by inspiring and motivating community leadership and encouraging them to adopt inclusive practices. We are defending rights by promoting public policies and legislation that furthers legislation.
By enabling inclusive lives for people with an intellectual disability we are building a Canada where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and prosper. This benefits us all. We invite you to join us.
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