Looking to Ottawa: disability policy issues at the federal level Keynote Address Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering “From the Outside Looking In” March 29, 2019 Michael J. Prince

Recent Federal Developments In 2017, Canada Revenue Agency’s Disability Advisory Committee reinstated Budget 2018, EI Sickness Benefit to allow working while on claim to stage return to employment during an illness New funding of $18 million over six years to expand Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, in 2018-19. To assist businesses recruit, accommodate and retain persons with disabilities Federal government committed to hiring at least 5,000 people with disabilities over next five years

Budget 2019: measures to assist persons with disabilities Initiative Investment Canada Student Loans for students with permanent disabilities $15 million over five years Employment supports for persons with intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder $12 million over three years Removing technological barriers in federal government workplaces $13.7 million over five years Accessible materials for persons with print disabilities $25.8 million over five years Employment opportunities for persons with visual impairments $1 million in 2019-20 Implement a National Dementia Strategy $50 million over five years

Budget 2019: Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Change and benefit Estimated expenditure To allow a RDSP to remain open when a beneficiary no longer qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit Person will no longer have to repay grants and bonds to the Government of Canada. They can remain in the RDSP Recognition of severe but episodic disabilities in a person’s life Better protection of long-term savings of eligible persons with severe disabilities $109 million over next five years ($33 million per year ongoing)

Recent Intergovernmental Development Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPDs) expired March 2018 Replaced by Workforce Development Agreements, which consolidate LMAPDs, Canada Job Fund Agreements, and the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Agreements Canada-BC Agreement commits “to ensure continued support for persons with disabilities in gaining and maintaining meaningful employment”

Workforce Development Agreements Areas of focus: training, supports, employment partnerships, building knowledge Provision of “supports to maximize potential for training; and continue to support persons with disabilities to enter and stay in the labour market” Principles include: Inclusive – to support underrepresented groups, including those further from the labour market Engagement – to work collaboratively and respectfully with Indigenous peoples. Canada will continue to provide its own labour market programs for Indigenous peoples.

Workforce Development Agreements In each fiscal year to 2022-23, BC commits to allocating a specified amount of federal transfers and an equal amount of provincial revenues on programming for persons with disabilities Accountability includes an Annual Plan that describes process of consultations with organizations representing employers and employees, Indigenous peoples, the disability community Performance outcomes on employment, increased earnings, and sustainable employment of individuals

Bill C-81, Accessible Canada Act Introduced in House of Commons June 2018, following consultations from July 2016 to May 2017 The progressive realization, within the legislative authority of Parliament, of a Canada without barriers Unanimously passed by House of Commons, November 2018 with some amendments Many other amendments recommended by disability groups and by Standing Committee rejected by government Now at Senate, referred to Social Affairs Committee March 21, 2019 for study and public hearings Intent is to have legislation passed by June 2019

Bill C-81, Accessible Canada Act Federal government announced $290 million over six years, staring in 2018-19, to implement the Act Creation of a new Deputy Minister for Public Service Accessibility in 2018 Objectives: Shift burden off individuals with disabilities to address systemic accessibility issues Provide entities under federal jurisdiction with standards to achieve and maintain Involve Canadians with disabilities in the new approach Report annually on progress and results to Canadians

Accessible Canada Act: who is covered and not covered? Parliament – the House of Commons, Senate, Library of Parliament First Nations Federal government departments, Crown corporations, and agencies Organizations that contract with the federal government or receive federal funding (e.g., hospital, university or public transit system) Federally regulated private sector: banking, broadcasting, federal transportation and telecommunications American Sign Language (ASL) and Quebec Sign Language (QSL) as official languages of people who are Deaf Canadian Forces and RCMP (with some qualifications) Provincial and territorial authorities – though Minister to collaborate with provinces or territories in coordinating efforts on accessibility

Promising opportunities Participating in public policy making is fundamental Investing in research, knowledge and evaluation: children with disabilities, Indigenous persons with disabilities Inclusion is no one thing or fixed place: meaningful roles and respectful social relations in various settings and transitions, sustained over time Strengthening capacity of service agencies Connecting the UNDRIP & CRPD: Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – collective and individual truths and entitlements

Thank you!