Response to Elizabeth May
Greetings Ms. May,
Thank you for responding — delay notwithstanding. I'm of the opinion that our democratic process works best when our elected representatives actually engage with the public. You are one of the few I've contacted that has bothered to do so.
That said, I find the general "this is where we're at" tone of your email reductive, tone-deaf. and frankly, condescending. You could have responded with actions that you, and your Green Party, will do to ensure both a timely activation of Bill C-22 and fortify the skeleton framework nature of that Bill (via regulations). Instead, you chose to give me a summary history lesson of Bill C-22. I would have thought you'd know that this was unnecessary given that your response is to a mass-generated email on this very topic.
I am a Person with Disabilities (PWD) that has been very active in our struggles for clear recognition and specific representation / protection vis a vis the CCRF, UNCRPD, and equivalent Provincial / Territorial agreements for thirty (30) years; further, I have been very actively engaged in the online PWD community (primarily through Twitter) for the past three (3) years. I kicked my online engagement into high gear when it became obvious that PWD would never be granted the same income protections as abled WORKERS via CERB and its various iterations since the onset of COVID-19. I have witnessed, with great interest, the full process of what is now Bill C-22 through its initial introduction as C-35, through to Bill C-22 awaiting Royal Assent. I have watched—often in real time—the debates in both chambers of Parliament, hearings of the HUMA and SOCI committees, and the consistent reminders from several MPs in regular HoC QPs.
I have seen, and applauded, each and every time your colleagues Mike Morrice and Bonita Zarillo stood up in the HoC to remind your chamber that over a million PWD continue to languish in abject poverty, that we continue to exist in a no-mans-land of "jurisdiction" between Federal and Prov / Terr services, and that thousands of us are considering MAiD rather than continue to be ignored by our Government(s). What I have not seen, specifically in the past three years, is you holding our Governments to account with the same zeal as your colleagues; this is an issue that I would hope is of paramount importance to the Leader of the Green Party of Canada. To be fair, I have also not seen great interest from the various leaders of the Conservative Party, Mr. Singh of the New Democrats, or Prime Minister J. Trudeau. While I both understand and find it appropriate to have critics respond to specific Cabinet level discussions, I also expect the Leaders of our national parties to hold the governing Party to account on matters that affect millions of Canadian citizens. Further, I would expect that you are aware that the ranks of PWD in Canada is likely to increase (exponentially) as the full effects on Long-COVID come to light over the coming years.
In the spirit of co-operative action, I ask what you will do to ensure that the regulations of Bill C-22 ensure the following:
The income established via C-22 be indexed to a relevant measure of poverty that takes into account varying rates-of-inflation for "volatiles" currently ignored in many models; it is these "volatiles"—food, housing, travel—that make up the vast majority of PWD expenses as we don't actually have disposable income due to our impoverished state. Further C-22 income must be reviewed (and re-indexed) more often than the annual adjustment currently in place for CPP-D.
A guarantee that senior PWD—those not considered "working age"—over 65 y.o.a. will also qualify for adjusted supplementary PWD income. The Government seems unaware that senior income composed of only Government sources (CPP, OAS, GIS) is almost as dismal as that of working age PWD; our assisted seniors also live in deep poverty. The assumptions of previous generations that seniors have less expenses in housing, food, travel, etc haven't been valid for at least a generation. My own (recently deceased) Mom spent her last three years spending her full income of $1700 per month languishing in a long-term-care home that received Government subsidies to afford quality care for her. Thankfully, she was in a small non-corporate LTC with caring and competent staff; too many seniors are relegated to warehouse-style LTCs. Our seniors (PWD and otherwise) must have their income raised to at least the poverty line.
Guarantees that current recipients of federal / provincial / territorial income support(s) will be grandfathered into the new C-22 program. It would be unconscionable to submit PWD to further lengthy and expensive application periods as an exercise in bureaucracy. We have already proven the nature and severity of our disabilities, our need for guaranteed income, and the various barriers that prevent the majority of us from participating in traditional employment. We must not be required to offer these proofs again. Further, the application process must account for differing levels of access—via income, disability, or resources—in order to be equitable for all PWD. The goal should be casting the widest net possible in order to catch those PWD that would be otherwise missed.
A clearly defined appeal process that respects the needs (and limitations) of PWD by accessing all available communication modes: panels in person, via Zoom conference, electronic submission(s), standard mail, etc. Regardless of method(s), the appeal process must be dedicated solely to PWD applying for C-22 rather than having the Appeal Board covering a variety of programs. Further, there must be a rigorous selection process for Board members to ensure that they have professional, personal, and / or lived experience as a PWD in order to be qualified to judge applications from PWD for C-22 income. We PWD cannot be subject to the whims of an appeals board that doesn't understand the nuanced and wide variety of disabling conditions; we are more than "ramps and Braille".
Language that instructs P/T programs, private insurers, and other income providers that C-22 income is to be considered supplementary rather than "employment derived" in order to ensure that they do not fill their own coffers with monies intended for PWD. It must be made clear that C-22 is not to be used as a win-fall for Corporate entities' profit margins. The vast majority of them receive enough subsidies to choke a horse already.
I cannot speak to your expectations when you entered public political life, nor when you (again) accepted the position of Leader of the Green Party. Regardless of those expectations, it is now your duty as a Leader, as a parliamentarian, and as a Canadian to ensure that PWD are not forgotten again during this unmonitored, and publicly unavailable, regulatory process. PWD have been silent for too long. In fact, PWD were encouraged to be silent by tacitly accepting our established role(s) as inspiration, cautionary tale, or prop to be carted out when others needed to appear charitable. This perception must stop. We expect full and unconditional respect and co-operation from those that represent us in Parliament.
PWD needs are no different—outside of our disabilities—from those of abled Canadians. We need (demand) recognition, respect, and being included in all future processes that purport to represent those needs. Our disabilities are numerous—we are blind, deaf, mobility impaired, and neurodivergent; experience an array of psychological / emotional conditions; have widely variable levels of available energy, time, or resources; are employed in private, public, and self-employed sectors or not able to work at all; aged from students to advanced seniors. In short, PWD cross all other demographic boundaries. In 2023, we are not limited by our disabilities to the same degree as previous generations as there are a number of NGOs that have managed to raise awareness of our issues; these NGOs fill in some of the gaps. In 2023, the singular factor limiting full involvement of PWD in our larger society is our income. NGOs have no remedy for that—nor, should they. The time is now to stand with PWD and show that you value our involvement to the same degree as abled Canadians, regardless of our (in)ability to be employed.
In closing, I invite you to be a true Leader for PWD in our Canadian Parliament. I invite you to value PWD at least as highly as your Party values the environment, refugees, and green energy. I invite you to be vocal and public in your support of PWD issues. I invite you to show, through action, that PWD are of concern to the Green Party and to you.
Please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss the future of PWD going forward.
Very best,
C. Daley
On Wed, 21 Jun 2023 at 17:52, May, Elizabeth - M.P. <Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca> wrote:
Good afternoon,
Thank you for writing about Bill C-22. I completely agree that this bill is long overdue to reduce poverty for those with disabilities. I apologise for my delayed response.
Bill C-22 passed in the House of Commons unanimously and then passed in the Senate. The bill then came back to the House of Commons for final review. It has now passed final review in the Senate, and I am hopeful it will receive Royal Assent in the days to come. The Canada Disability Benefit will help raise many Canadians out of poverty. The benefit will be stacked on other benefits that individuals already received regardless of if the benefit is territorial, provincial or federal.
As of now, the amount of money is to be determined; however, we know that it will be based on income. This ensures that those who need this benefit the most will receive the most.
The next step is for the government to make a plan. They have yet to bring one to parliament. I will continue to pressure the government to make this happen as soon as possible.
Thank you again for writing. It is an honour to serve as Member of Parliament.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C.
Member of Parliament
Saanich-Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
