Evidence of meeting #141 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cmhc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
We have put forward supports on the ground for persons with disabilities.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, are you not willing to answer whether persons with disabilities are in a cost of living crisis?
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
Mr. Chair, if the honourable member would allow me to answer, although she never did last time I was here, I'll be happy to report—
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
—that we're working with communities on the ground. For the first time ever, we have put forward a statutory benefit, the Canada disability benefit, that is going to help over 600,000 persons with disabilities, who are going to receive cheques, Mr. Chair, in—
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, it's back to my time. We usually use equal time here.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, you're obviously not willing to answer, and that will be noted by persons with disabilities and advocates of persons with disabilities, for sure.
As well, on the Canada disability benefit that you just referenced, when did you determine that the maximum amount of $200 a month would lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty? When did you determine that it was that amount that would do that?
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
Mr. Chair, through you, as the honourable member very well knows, the budget was tabled this year with $6.1 billion put forward to support persons with disabilities. That is going to help over 600,000—
Conservative
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
That will be for some of the most vulnerable individuals with disabilities, in order to really close that poverty gap in this country. That's the first of its kind.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, that wasn't the question.
Can you please answer the question? When did you determine that was the correct amount?
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
As the honourable member knows, the budget was tabled this year. We worked with the disability community from day one. There was $6.1 billion, the single largest budget item.
Conservative
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
This was in the budget to support Canadians with disabilities.
Conservative
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
Over 600,000 persons with disabilities will be getting their cheques in July 2025. We're going to make sure that Canadians get that support.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Minister, I'm going to ask you another question, because you're obviously not willing to answer that either.
You've spoken at this committee about getting arrangements signed with the provinces to avoid clawbacks.
With how many provinces or territories have you now signed agreements?
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
Apart from the four, the remaining provinces and territories have committed publicly that they will not be clawing back the benefits for persons with disabilities. In fact—
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
—it's important to recognize the collaboration we've been having. In Newfoundland and Labrador, because of the work that we put forward, it has actually—
Conservative
Liberal
Kamal Khera Liberal Brampton West, ON
It's important to know that people in Newfoundland and Labrador are going—