For these reasons, an industry has emerged to assist people with disabilities to complete forms for the disability tax credit and other benefits. It's recognized that this support, while necessary for some, comes at a significant cost.
There are three organizations within our report that are identified. Two of them are member organizations of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. The Saskatchewan Voice of People with Disabilities and the Alberta Committee of Citizens of Disabilities actually provide the service for free. The Alberta Network for Mental Health, which is located in Airdrie, is an organization for which I also serve as president. It assists people with any government forms they require, from income support to the DTC and beyond, including appeals. We have emerging best practices that we would be happy to share.
CCD and DAWN believe disability organizations should be supported as part of Minister Finley's interest in social financing to assist people to complete applications for the disability tax credit, the CPPD, and other relevant programs.
In closing, I wish to make only one other point. We do address the issue of costs that come from other professionals and our experience with that. Then I would like to read the last two very brief paragraphs.
CPP and DAWN are very concerned with the need to protect people from exploitation and outright financial abuse. None of the informants to this presentation can attest to the efficacy or credibility of their services: they appear unregulated. This means the safety of Canadians with disabilities and their families is at risk.
For proof of why this bill is so important, we need only to look at Vicky Shachtay's death, a disabled mother of a six-year-old in Innisfail, Alberta, who was murdered by her financial advisor. Though the crime was not related to the disability tax credit promoters referred to in this legislation, it is a clear demonstration that financial abuse did not only take a woman's money but also her life. Regulation of the fees and protection of citizens with disabilities is so important.
We look forward to working with the Government of Canada as active and engaged partners in improving the lives of people with disabilities.
We thank Ms. Gallant for her initiative. We hope you support her both in her work and in ours.
Thank you.