Disabling Poverty/Enabling Citizenship: income security reforms to advance dignity and inclusion in Canada Session Presentation at the Congress of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities United Nations New York, July 19, 2013 Michael J. Prince

Outline 1. Demographics of disability and poverty 2. Canadian disability income programs 3. Policy context: the national level 4. Policy context: the provinces 5. Income reform options 6. Some strategic issues for disability organizations and other civil society groups 2

Demographics of Disability Canadians with disabilities ◦ Are a high share of people on social assistance/safety net programs ◦ Have a great risk of living in or near income poverty ◦ Canada does not have an official measure of poverty at the national level, though some provinces are adopting such measures ◦ Rely on income benefit payment levels that are comparatively low by OECD standards ◦ Experience significant gaps between lived realities and declared aims of Article 28 3

Canadian disability income benefit programs Canadian disability income benefit programs Separate federal programs for short term sickness and long term disability, with limited interaction between programs Occupational-related injuries and diseases primarily responsibility of provincial workers’ compensation schemes Both federal sickness and disability programs are contributory-based social insurance policies with federal administration No partial benefits are available through Employment Insurance sickness benefit or the Canada Pension Plan-Disability benefit, and limited support for people with partially-reduced work capacity Vocational rehabilitation services voluntary Comparatively strict eligibility and access to disability benefits and modest benefit levels for sickness and disability 4

Policy context: national level Budget 2013 of the Canadian Government announced several disability-related measures: ◦ $2 million investment to support creation of a Canadian Employers Disability Forum ◦ Enabling Accessibility Fund now an ongoing program of $15 million per year as of to improve physical accessibility ◦ Opportunities Fund to be an ongoing program with $40 million per year as of and reformed “to provide more demand-driven training solutions... and more responsive to labour market needs” ◦ Negotiate a “new generation” of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities of $222 million per year by April 2014 “to better meet the employment needs of businesses and improve the employment prospects for people with disabilities” along with “stronger accountability regimes in place” 5

Policy context: the provinces Three general trends of relevance to the CRPD across one or more provincial jurisdictions : Poverty Reduction Strategies introduced in several provincial jurisdictions over last 10 years, usually with a statutory foundation and a focus on people with disabilities along with several other marginalized groups Social assistance policy reviews and reforms: ◦ New separate income program for the disabled (SK) ◦ Major increases in benefits (AB, SK) ◦ Incremental changes in most welfare systems (PEI, BC) ◦ Reconsideration of a separate program (ON) Disability Strategy development exercises (BC, SK) over next few years with engagement processes of some kind 6

Income reform options General reform themesSpecific policy ideas Improve public program coverage against risks of poverty Extend and make flexible the duration of Employment Insurance Sickness benefits Introduce a medium-term sickness/disability benefit Enhance adequacy of benefit payments Introduce a Refundable Disability Tax Credit Increase Child Disability Benefit Raise and index Social Assistance Create a national Basic Income for people with severe disabilities Strengthen employment and work incentives Enhance Working Income Tax Benefit Raise earnings exemptions in Social Assistance Make partial CPP-Disability benefits Provincial income supplements 7

Some strategic issues Over the next few years, what should be the top priorities on social protection for disability advocates and organizations? Where and how to engage? What are the next steps forward to tackle the disproportionate poverty and insecurity of people with disabilities? In regard to Article 28 on the CRPD, what is possible in reform in the longer term to realize an adequate and continuous improvement in standard of living for people with disabilities? What lessons can we share with other? 8

Thank you Comments Questions? More is available information at: “Disabling Poverty and Enabling Citizenship” Community-University Research Alliance (CURA) 9