in some provinces, less than 40 per cent of individuals with qualifying disabilities are estimated to have cra-deemed eligibility to the dtc.
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we published analysis of the take up of the dtc in our university of calgary school of public policy report in 2018. a senate committee held hearings with stakeholders and published a report in 2018 entitled breaking down barriers , urging the government to reform the dtc.
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in response, the federal disability advisory committee was reinstated to provide advice to diane lebouthillier, minister of national revenue on dtc reform. the advisory committee then released an excellent report with specific and actionable recommendations titled enabling access to disability tax measures , documenting “wide-ranging concerns” from dtc applicants, current beneficiaries and health providers.
the alternative would be federal support provided to provinces to administer via their disability programs . this option would only provide funding to those eligible for these programs, which are often income tested.
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why should persons with disabilities in canada receive less pandemic support than everyone else in the country? as a signatory to the un convention on the rights of persons with disability and its guiding principles, the federal government has committed to equality of opportunity for canadians with disabilities. a one-time payment that is inaccessible to many simply isn’t sufficient to fulfil these commitments.