Trudeau Announces Support for Canadians with Disabilities

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced aid for Canadians with Disabilities deal with extra expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. One-time payments of $600 will be given out to all Canadians with a valid disability tax credit certificate.

“Canadians with disabilities are facing significant challenges because of COVID-19, as they work to access essential services and care, and provide for their families,” Trudeau says. The additional payments will break down as follows:

• 600 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate.  
• $300 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and who are eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension.
• $100 for Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and who are eligible for the OAS pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

“We know this pandemic has deeply affected the lives and health of all Canadians, and disproportionately affected Canadians with disabilities in particular”, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough said.. The federal government is proposing additional reforms to help disabled Canadians find, and keep stable employment. They propose investing $15 million in a National Workplace Accessibility Stream, and $1.18 billion in new projects across the country through an Accessible Technology Program.