Thank you.
I'm Susan Ralph. I'm the second vice-chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, as well as a member at large.
CCD is the only national cross-disability organization of men and women with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada. CCD promotes the elimination of barriers so that Canadians with disabilities have the opportunity to take their place in the Canadian economy.
Coordinated by our organization and the Canadian Association for Community Living, people with disabilities and their families have developed a national action plan to address these barriers. I have brought along copies of our national action plan to leave with you. In this presentation today, I will share with you those solutions relevant to your work on your committee.
CCD will be focusing on solutions aimed at ensuring shared prosperity and a high standard of living for all citizens. We are aware that the federal jurisdiction has its limitations and that responsibility for many of our issues rests within the provinces and territories.
We urge the Government of Canada to work collaboratively with all provinces and territories on labour market strategies and broad social policy initiatives to address the needs of persons with disabilities. Wherever possible, we ask the Government of Canada to use its legislative powers to ensure persons with disabilities are fully included in Canadian programs and services and thus have opportunities to contribute to Canada's social and economic prosperity.
CCD urges the Government of Canada to remember those who already face significant barriers and disadvantages. Many within the disability community live on incomes that are less than $10,000 annually. CCD respectfully puts forward three recommendations that if implemented would increase the opportunities for inclusion and contribution of persons with disabilities, improve their standard of living, and facilitate their sharing in Canada's prosperity.
Our number one request is to address the disproportionate poverty experienced by Canadians with disabilities. The registered disability savings plan created in Budget 2007 is a positive initiative, but its impact will not be felt until 10 years after its inception. The disability tax credit is the Canadian government's main program that addresses the non-itemizable and non-reimbursable costs of living with a disability--for those who meet the DTC eligibility requirement. At present, many Canadians with disabilities who would be eligible for the DTC have no benefit from this because they do not have a taxable income. Our recommendation is that the Government of Canada make the disability tax credit refundable for Canadians with disabilities who do not have a taxable income.
Number two, expand the EI sick benefit. A qualified worker can receive sick benefits for up to 15 weeks. In the area of sickness benefits, Canada lags behind other countries. The inadequate duration of this benefit puts Canadians at increased risk of slipping into poverty. In the national action plan, the disability community has recommended reform of the EI sick benefit, for up to 52 weeks of coverage, as one of the first steps to end disability poverty. Such reform would ensure continuity of income against the interruptions of earnings in case of illness and disablement. It is of note that over 100 Canadian organizations supported this proposal when endorsing the national action plan we have developed. CCD recommends that the Government of Canada reform the EI sick benefit to provide up to 52 weeks of coverage.
Number three, support organizations of persons with disabilities. Organizations of persons with disabilities will be called upon during an economic downturn to support and create community services to assist those who have lost jobs or find themselves less able to cope. Canada's organizations of persons with disabilities provide a wide variety of programming, including training and professional development and individual supports and shelter to members of our community. During hard times, volunteers and their associations play a critical role in addressing the difficulties encountered by many. The Government of Canada must enable volunteers and the disability organizations to continue to make the strong and effective contributions that only they can provide.
CCD recommends that the Government of Canada renew and expand the social development partnership program that supports the disability community to bring the government advice and information for creating a more accessible and inclusive Canada. This fund has not been increased since 1996, and people with disabilities and their organizations have repeatedly been asked to do more with less.
This situation cannot continue. Soon, if the government does not expand its support and added value by engagement with disability organizations, we'll be lost.
In conclusion, on March 11, 2010, Canada ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD. By adopting the recommendations you have heard today, the Canadian government would be acting in accordance with the spirit of the CRPD, which holds states parties to a standard of progressive realization of the objectives established in the convention.
I thank you all for your time and for the opportunity to highlight our three main items, to which we are confident this committee can contribute.
Again, thank you.