Hon. Brent Cotter: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. It concerns Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act.

Senator Gold, you’ll recall that in June there was unanimous and enthusiastic adoption in the Senate and in the other place of Bill C-22. Part of that enthusiasm was associated with the message from Minister Qualtrough that the benefit would be in place for working-age Canadians with disabilities in approximately one year.

Recent communications from the government indicate that, relying on a Senate amendment to the bill that gives the government up to two years for implementation, the benefit will not become available until sometime in 2025 — perhaps as late as June 2025 — leaving thousands of our neediest citizens with disabilities without this benefit for up to two years after the bill received Royal Assent.

Can you advise whether this very unfortunate delay is indeed the case?

Hon. Brent Cotter: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. In light of the statements by Senators Bernard and Petitclerc earlier today, this seems an appropriate question to ask today. Bill C-35, the Canada disability benefit act, was tabled in the other place on June 22, 2021. Admittedly, this was far too late for it to be considered and passed before the election arrived, but it was certainly a signal to the disability community of our government’s commitment. The bill states, “. . . to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit . . . .”

The preamble sets out all the very good reasons why this is a critically important piece of legislation for people with disabilities and their families. Even some Government of Canada websites note the fact that as many as 6 million Canadians over the age of 15 suffer from a disability and that they are far more likely to live in poverty due to social and economic exclusion. Yet there was no reference in the Throne Speech to our government’s intentions in relation to this legislation and, with ministers’ mandates not yet public, there is no assurance that this continues to be a government priority.

Can you confirm that, having raised the expectations of 6 million Canadians and their families, a commitment to this legislation remains a government priority?