Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694824460483.pdf (Canada)
BILL C-22: AN ACT TO REDUCE POVERTY AND TO SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ESTABLISHING THE CANADA DISABILITY BENEFIT AND MAKING A CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE INCOME TAX ACT 44-1-C22-E 10 March 2023 Allison Lowenger and Mayra Perez-Leclerc Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services AUTHORSHIP Date Author Division 1 September 2022 Allison Lowenger 1 September 2022 Mayra Perez-Leclerc Legal and Social Affairs Division Legal and Social Affairs Division ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION Library of Parliament Legislative Summaries summarize bills currently before Parliament and provide background about them in an objective and impartial manner.
They are prepared by Parliamentary Information, Education and Research Services, which carries out research for and provides information and analysis to parliamentarians and Senate and House of Commons committees and parliamentary associations.

Legislative Summaries are revised as needed to reflect amendments made to bills as they move through the legislative process.
For clarity of exposition, the legislative proposals set out in the bill described in this Legislative Summary are stated as if they had already been adopted or were in force.

It is important to note, however, that bills may be amended during their consideration by the House of Commons and Senate, and have no force or effect unless and until they are passed by both houses of Parliament, receive Royal Assent, and come into force.
Any substantive changes in this Library of Parliament Legislative Summary that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print.

© Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada, 2023 Legislative Summary of Bill C-22 (Preliminary version) 44-1-C22-E Ce document est également publié en français.
CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 About the Canada Disability Benefit ........................................................................................ 2 2 DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS ............................................................................................. 4 2.1 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.3 2.4 2.5 General Matters Relating to the Bill ......................................................................................... 4 Preamble ................................................................................................................................. 4 Short Title and Purposes of the Bill (Clauses 1 to 3) ....................................................................................................................... 5 Canada Disability Benefit ........................................................................................................ 5 General Matters Relating to the Canada Disability Benefit (Clauses 4 to 10) ..................................................................................................................... 5 Regulations (Clauses 11 to 11.1) ................................................................................................................ 6 Progress Reports (Clause 11.2)........................................................................................................................... 8 Parliamentary Review (Clause 12) ............................................................................................................................. 8 Consequential Amendments to the Income Tax Act (Clause 13) ............................................................................................................................. 9 Coming into Force (Clause 14) ............................................................................................................................. 9 i Bill C-22 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY OF BILL C-22: AN ACT TO REDUCE POVERTY AND TO SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BY ESTABLISHING THE CANADA DISABILITY BENEFIT AND MAKING A CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE INCOME TAX ACT 1 BACKGROUND Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act (short title: Canada Disability Benefit Act), was introduced in the House of Commons on 2 June 2022 by the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.1 Bill C-22 received first reading on the same day.
Bill C-22 replicates the contents of Bill C-35,2 an identically named bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 22 June 2021.

Bill C-35 did not progress beyond first reading and died on the Order Paper when a federal election was called on 15 August 2021.
In the 16 December 2021 mandate letter for the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, the Minister was tasked with “[moving] forward with the design, introduction and implementation of a Canada Disability Benefit Act and Canada Disability Benefit for low-income working age persons with disabilities.” 3 On 10 May 2022, during Question Period in the House of Commons, Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody–Coquitlam), called on the Government of Canada to bring in a disability benefit as soon as possible.
She moved that given that the disability community has disproportionately been negatively impacted by the pandemic, the rising cost of goods and food, and the skyrocketing cost of housing, the House call on the government to put into place a Canada Disability Benefit without delay.4 The motion received unanimous consent.

Bill C-22 establishes the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) with the stated purposes of reducing poverty and supporting the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities.
It also sets out general provisions for administering the CDB and grants regulation-making powers to the Governor in Council with respect to most of the CDB’s design elements.

1 Bill C-22 Lastly, Bill C-22 amends the Income Tax Act 5 (ITA) to allow the disclosure of taxpayer information for the administration and enforcement of the Canada Disability Benefit Act or for the evaluation or formulation of policy for that Act.
Bill C-22 was referred to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) on 18 October 2022.
HUMA reported the bill with amendments on 14 December 2022, and the House of Commons concurred in that report on 1 February 2023.6 HUMA amended the bill to, among other things, add a definition for the term “disability”; allow the Governor in Council to make regulations requiring the benefit to be indexed to inflation; and require the Governor in Council to consider the Official Poverty Line when making regulations about the amount of the benefit.
HUMA also amended the bill to require the Minister of Employment and Social Development to make public any agreements entered into to carry out the purposes of the Canada Disability Benefit Act; to provide persons with disabilities with “meaningful and barrier-free opportunities to collaborate in the development and design of the regulations”; and to table progress reports before Parliament.
Finally, HUMA amended the bill to stipulate that an initial parliamentary review of the Canada Disability Benefit Act be conducted earlier than originally provided (i.e., within one year of the relevant provision coming into force) and to indicate that the Act comes into force within one year from royal assent.

Bill C-22 was referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI) on 9 March 2023.
1.1 ABOUT THE CANADA DISABILITY BENEFIT The CDB is one of the three components of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan to which the Government of Canada committed in the Speech from the Throne of 23 September 2020.
The Speech from the Throne explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities and highlighted long-standing challenges.7 According to the commitment included in the Speech from the Throne, once in place, the Disability Inclusion Action Plan would include the following:  A new Canadian Disability Benefit modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors;  A robust employment strategy for Canadians with disabilities; 2 Bill C-22  And a better process to determine eligibility for Government disability programs and benefits.8 Funding for the Disability Inclusion Action Plan was announced in Budget 2021.
In particular, the budget committed $11.9 million over three years starting in 2021–2022 to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for consultations on how to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits.9 The work of the consultations is expected to “feed directly into 10 Budget 2021 indicated that, in preparation the design of a new disability benefit.” for legislation to bring forward a new disability benefit, ESDC will also “establish a steering committee to oversee the development of this work, alongside the Canada 11 Revenue Agency, the Department of Finance Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada.” In its Departmental Plan for 2022–2023, ESDC stated that it will “continue to engage Canadians in the development and implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan” and “work toward the Accessible Canada Act goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040.” Responsible for Social Services held an initial discussion about the proposed benefit in July 2021.13 12 In addition, ESDC said that the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers On 7 October 2022, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, released Canada’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan.14 The Action Plan is built around four initial pillars which were identified by the disability community as key priorities:  Pillar 1 – Financial Security: actions to improve the immediate and long-term financial security of persons with disabilities, such as through the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit.
 Pillar 2 – Employment: actions to address long-standing barriers that persons with disabilities face in the labour market and workplace, including by providing supports to both persons with disabilities and employers.

 Pillar 3 – Accessible and Inclusive Communities: actions to address the physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in their communities and the economy.
 Pillar 4 – A Modern Approach to Disability: actions to address the challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing federal programs and benefits, as well as ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities are reflected in government policies and programs.15 3 Bill C-22 16 Budget 2022 makes no mention of Bill C-22 or the CDB, although it does include $272.6 million over five years in funding for an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund.
The fund’s stated goal is to “[increase] participation by persons with disabilities and make workplaces more inclusive and accessible.” Furthermore, the Fall Economic Statement 2022 announced $802.1 million over three years, starting in 2022–2023, to the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS).

The YESS program provides support to young people, including those facing multiple barriers to employment and groups underrepresented in the labour market.
The Fall Economic Statement 2022 estimates that, in 2022–2023, the YESS program provides support to 24,000 youth, 65% of which are expected to be from one of the strategy’s priority groups, including youth with disabilities.17 A news release from ESDC on 22 June 2021 explained that the CDB will “supplement, not replace, existing federal and provincial-territorial supports with a goal of lifting hundreds of thousands of persons with disabilities out of poverty.” A number of federal disability benefits and programs exist, including disability pensions, children’s benefits and savings plans.19 However, the department noted that despite these existing supports at the federal, provincial and territorial levels, Canadians living with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty as are Canadians without disabilities.20 18 Bill C-22 is one of the latest initiatives by the Government of Canada for the benefit of people with disabilities; in 2019, the government enacted the Accessible Canada Act.21 The Accessible Canada Act, which came into force on 11 July 2019, seeks to transform Canada and make it barrier free in areas under federal jurisdiction (including employment) by or before 1 January 2040 through the identification, removal and prevention of barriers.22 On 22 December 2021, the Accessible Canada Regulations came into force.23 These regulations focus on accessibility planning and reporting.
2 DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS 2.1 GENERAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE BILL 2.1.1 Preamble The preamble to the bill sets out the rationale for the legislation.

It highlights the impact that economic and social exclusion can have on working-age persons with disabilities, who are more likely to live in poverty as a result.

The barriers to employment that persons with disabilities face are examples of this type of exclusion.
4 Bill C-22 These barriers can include work disincentives caused by the loss of income and other benefits when a person gains employment.
According to the preamble, the legislation is designed to improve social and economic inclusion and enhance the existing protection of the rights of persons with disabilities under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.24 The Canada Disability Benefit Act also aims to help reduce poverty, as set out in the Poverty Reduction Act,25 progressively achieve Canada’s international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 26 and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.27 In addition, the preamble recognizes the importance of engaging with people who have disabilities, along with the provinces and territories, to design the CDB.
2.1.2 Short Title and Purposes of the Bill (Clauses 1 to 3) Clause 1 of Bill C-22 sets out the short title of the bill, namely, the Canada Disability Benefit Act.
Clause 2 sets out the definitions that apply in the Canada Disability Benefit Act with relation to the term “disability” (defined as having the same meaning as in section 2 of the Accessible Canada Act) and the term “Minister” (defined as the Minister of Employment and Social Development).28 Clause 3 states that the purposes of the bill are “to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities.” 2.2 CANADA DISABILITY BENEFIT 2.2.1 General Matters Relating to the Canada Disability Benefit (Clauses 4 to 10) Clause 4 of Bill C-22 provides that a person is eligible to receive the CDB if they meet the regulatory criteria for eligibility.
Clause 5 of the bill requires the minister to pay the CDB to eligible persons who apply for it or for whom an application is made, in accordance with the regulations.

Clauses 6 and 7 of the bill make provisions for the collection of information.

Specifically, an applicant or their representative must provide to the minister any information that may be required with respect to the application for a CDB (clause 6).
In addition, the minister is authorized to collect and use the social insurance number of an applicant for the purposes of administering and enforcing the Canada Disability Benefit Act (clause 7).

5 Bill C-22 Clause 8(1) stipulates that the minister may enter into agreements with any federal department or agency and, upon approval by the Governor in Council, with any provincial department or agency, to carry out the purposes of the Canada Disability Benefit Act set out in clause 3.
Clause 8(2) indicates that the minister must make these agreements public.29 Clause 9 protects CDB payments from being subject to bankruptcy or insolvency laws.

It prevents the payments from being assigned, charged, attached or used as a security or retained by way of deduction, set-off or compensation under any federal legislation other than the Canada Disability Benefit Act.
However, benefit payments are garnishable under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act.30 Clause 10 provides that all benefits paid under the Canada Disability Benefit Act are to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
2.2.2 Regulations (Clauses 11 to 11.1) Clause 11(1) of Bill C-22 gives the Governor in Council the power to make regulations regarding most CDB design elements, including • • • the eligibility criteria (clause 11(1)(a)); the conditions to be met to receive or continue to receive a benefit (clause 11(1)(b)); the amount of a benefit or the method for determining that amount (clause 11(1)(c)); • requiring a benefit to be indexed to inflation and regarding the manner in which a benefit is to be indexed to inflation (clause 11(1)(d));31 • the payment periods and the amount to be paid in each period (clause 11(1)(e)); • applications for a benefit, including providing for an application process that is without barriers (as that term is defined in section 2 of the Accessible Canada Act) (clause 11(1)(f));32 • • the amendment or revocation of decisions made by the minister (clause 11(1)(g)); reviews or reconsiderations of decisions made under the Canada Disability Benefit Act (clause 11(1)(h)); • appeals (clause 11(1)(i)); • retroactive payments to persons who do not apply for a benefit within a specified time but who are otherwise eligible (clause 11(1)(j)); 6 Bill C-22 • applications and payments involving persons who are incapable of managing their own affairs, as well as reviews, reconsiderations or appeals commenced on their behalf (clause 11(1)(k)); • • • the circumstances in which the minister may deem an applicant or beneficiary to be dead, as well as the application of the Canada Disability Benefit Act when an applicant or beneficiary dies (clauses 11(1)(l) and 11(1)(m)); the minister’s correction of administrative errors (clause 11(1)(n)); and the identification and the recovery of debts owed to the Crown (clauses 11(1)(o) and 11(1)(p)).
Clause 11(1)(q) of the bill also authorizes the Governor in Council to make regulations that establish summary conviction offences and set fines or terms of imprisonment, or both, for any of the following offences: • knowingly using false identity information or another person’s identity information to obtain a benefit (clause 11(1)(q)(i)); • counselling someone to apply for a benefit in order to steal all or a substantial part of it (clause 11(1)(q)(ii)); and • knowingly making false or misleading representations concerning an application for a benefit (clause 11(1)(q)(iii)).
The Governor in Council may also make regulations under clause 11(1)(r) to establish a system of administrative monetary penalties and set the amounts of those penalties, for either or both of the following: • knowingly making false or misleading representations concerning an application for a benefit (clause 11(1)(r)(i)); and • applying for and receiving a benefit while knowingly not being eligible to receive it (clause 11(1)(r)(ii)).
Further, clause 11(1) authorizes the Governor in Council to make regulations to ensure compliance with the Canada Disability Benefit Act.

Specifically, the Governor in Council may make regulations to adapt section 44.2 of the Old Age Security Act 33 (which makes provisions for the administration and enforcement of seniors’ benefits under that Act) and apply it to the verification of compliance or the prevention of non-compliance with the Canada Disability Benefit Act (clause 11(1)(s)).
The Governor in Council may also make regulations authorizing the minister to ask an applicant, a beneficiary or their representative to provide any information or document needed for their application in order to verify compliance or prevent non-compliance with the Canada Disability Benefit Act (clause 11(1)(t)).

7 Bill C-22 Lastly, clause 11(1)(u) allows the Governor in Council to make regulations to carry out the purposes and provisions of the Canada Disability Benefit Act.
Clause 11(1.1) requires the Governor in Council to take into consideration the Official Poverty Line (as that term is defined in section 2 of the Poverty Reduction Act) when making regulations under clause 11(1)(c) with respect to the amount of a benefit.34 Clause 11(2) stipulates that regulations made by the Governor in Council may make distinctions between different classes of applicants and beneficiaries.
Clause 11.1 requires the minister to provide persons with disabilities from different backgrounds “meaningful and barrier-free opportunities to collaborate in the development and design of the regulations.” Regulations in respect of which persons with disabilities can collaborate include regulations setting out the application process, the eligibility criteria, the amount of a benefit and the appeal process.35 2.2.3 Progress Reports (Clause 11.2) Clause 11.2(1) requires the minister to table a report in the House of Commons setting out how the obligation to engage and collaborate with the disability community in the development of the regulations has been implemented.
This report must be tabled within six months after the day on which the Canada Disability Benefit Act comes into force.

Clause 11.2(2) requires the minister to table a report in each House of Parliament outlining the progress made in the regulatory process.

This report must be tabled within one year after the day on which the Canada Disability Benefit Act comes into force.
Clause 11.2(3) indicates that this progress report will be referred for review to the committee of each House that may be designated or established for that purpose.
Clause 11.2(4) stipulates that the report must be published on the website of the Department of Employment and Social Development.36 2.3 PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW (CLAUSE 12) Under clause 12 of Bill C-22, a committee of the Senate, the House of Commons or both must conduct a parliamentary review of the Canada Disability Benefit Act and of its administration and operation.
The initial review is to be conducted within 8 Bill C-22 one year after this provision comes into force, within three years from the coming into force date, and subsequently every five years thereafter.37 2.4 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE INCOME TAX ACT (CLAUSE 13) Clause 13 of Bill C-22 amends section 241(4)(d) of the ITA, which sets out the circumstances in which taxpayer information can be disclosed.
Specifically, new section 241(4)(d)(vii.51) of the ITA stipulates that taxpayer information may be provided by government officials to other officials solely for the administration and enforcement of the Canada Disability Benefit Act or for the evaluation or formulation of policy for that Act.
The Charter Statement accompanying Bill C-22 indicates that the sharing of taxpayer information about individuals who are applying for the CDB may engage the protections against unreasonable search and seizure under section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The statement goes on to say that the constitutionality of the provision is “similar to existing powers that have been upheld by the courts in the administrative and tax contexts” because the sharing of information is only for purposes closely related to the purposes for which the information is initially collected and used.38 2.5 COMING INTO FORCE (CLAUSE 14) Clause 14 of Bill C-22 provides that the Canada Disability Benefit Act comes into force within one year from royal assent.39 NOTES 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Bill C-22, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, 44th Parliament, 1st Session (third reading version, 2 February 2023).
Bill C-35, An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session.

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Mandate Letter, 16 December 2021.

House of Commons, Debates, 10 May 2022, 1510 (Bonita Zarrillo).

Income Tax Act, R.S.C.

1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.).


House of Commons, Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA), Bill C-22, Canada Disability Benefit Act, Sixth Report, 14 December 2022.

9 Bill C-22 7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.


Government of Canada, A Stronger and More Resilient Canada: Speech from the Throne to Open the Second Session of the Forty-Third Parliament of Canada, 23 September 2020, p. 17.

Ibid., pp.

17–18.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a monthly payment provided to individuals who are 65 years of age or older and who live in Canada.

It is available to low-income pensioners who receive Old Age Security and is not taxable.
The parameters for the supplement are set out under the Old Age Security Act.

For additional information, see Government of Canada, Guaranteed Income Supplement: What these benefits offer; and Old Age Security Act, R.S.C.

1985, c. O-9.

Department of Finance Canada, A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience, Budget 2021, pp.

233–234.

Ibid., p. 233.


Additional information on consultations is available from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Government of Canada reintroduces legislation to create a new Canada Disability Benefit, News release, 2 June 2022; and ESDC, Backgrounder: Supporting Canadians with disabilities – Canada Disability Benefit.

Department of Finance Canada, A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience, Budget 2021, p. 234.

ESDC, Departmental plan for fiscal year 2022 to 2023.
ESDC, Backgrounder: Supporting Canadians with disabilities – Canada Disability Benefit.

ESDC, Government of Canada releases national Disability Inclusion Action Plan, News release, 7 October 2022.

Ibid.

See also ESDC, Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, 2022.

Department of Finance Canada, A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable, Budget 2022, p. 124.

Government of Canada, Fall Economic Statement 2022, pp.

36–37.
36–37.

ESDC, Government of Canada introduces legislation to create the new Canada Disability Benefit, News release, 22 June 2021.

Government of Canada, Disability benefits.

ESDC, Government of Canada reintroduces legislation to create a new Canada Disability Benefit, News release, 2 June 2022.
See also Stuart Morris et al., “A demographic, employment and income profile of Canadians with disabilities aged 15 years and over, 2017,” Canadian Survey on Disability Reports, Statistics Canada, 28 November 2018; and Statistics Canada, Persons with disabilities and COVID-19, Infographic, 6 July 2020.

Accessible Canada Act, S.C. 2019, c. 10.

For additional information, see Brendan Naef and Mayra Perez-Leclerc, Legislative Summary of Bill C-81: An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada, Publication no.
42-1-C81-E, Library of Parliament, 27 June 2019.

See also Government of Canada, Order in Council P.C.

2019-1042, 9 July 2019.

Accessible Canada Regulations, SOR/2021-241.

See also ESDC, Summary of the Accessible Canada Regulations.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.), 1982, c. 11.

Poverty Reduction Act, S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 315.


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

United Nations, “17 Goals to Transform Our World,” Sustainable Development Goals.
At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to add a definition for the term “disability.” The Accessible Canada Act defines “disability” under section 2 as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – whether 10 Bill C-22 permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
See Accessible Canada Act, S.C. 2019, c.10.

29.

At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to require the minister to make public agreements entered into under clause 8(1) of the bill.

30.

Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, R.S.C.

1985, c. 4 (2nd Supp.).

The enforcement of family support obligations is primarily a provincial and territorial responsibility.
However, the federal government can assist the provinces and territories in their enforcement activities using federal legislation such as the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act.

Under Part II of the Act, certain federal payments (such as Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan and federal Income Tax Refunds) may be garnished to pay family support obligations.
These federal payments (known as “garnishable moneys”) are designated under section 3 of the Family Support Orders and Agreements Garnishment Regulations, SOR/88-181.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to allow the Governor in Council to make regulations requiring that the benefit be indexed to inflation.
At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to allow the Governor in Council to make regulations that provide for an application process without barriers.
The Accessible Canada Act defines the term “barrier” under section 2 as anything – including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice – that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.
See Accessible Canada Act, S.C. 2019, c.10.

Old Age Security Act, R.S.C.

1985, c. O-9, s. 44.2.

At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to add the requirement for the Governor in Council to consider the Official Poverty Line when making regulations about the amount of a benefit.
The Poverty Reduction Act defines the term “Official Poverty Line” under section 2 as “the Market Basket Measure, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act.” See Poverty Reduction Act, S.C. 2019, c.29, s.315.

At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to add a provision requiring collaboration with persons with disabilities in the making of the regulations.

At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to require the minister to table these progress reports.
At the committee stage, HUMA amended the bill to require a parliamentary review to be conducted within one year of clause 12 coming into force.
Government of Canada, Bill C-22: An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, Charter Statement, 21 June 2022 The coming into force provision for the Canada Disability Benefit Act was amended by HUMA at the committee stage to bring the bill into force within one year of royal assent.

11 Bill C-22