Many Canadians with disabilities shut out of pandemic funding

 By Jennifer Zwicker The federal government recently announced a one-time, federal tax-free payment for Disability Tax Credit (DTC) recipients intended to reduce financial barriers for persons with disabilities during the pandemic. This proposed bill failed to secure unanimous consent in the House of Commons for debate. In part, persons with

Breaking down barriers for Canadians with disability

 By: Jennifer Zwicker and Stephanie Dunn Breaking Down Barriers is the galvanising theme of a recent report from the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology that outlines urgently-needed recommendations to improve access to underutilised federal disability supports: the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and Registered Disability Savings Plan

Who’s in charge here? The tangled web of disability governance and policy in Canada

 At a recent Senate committee hearing on the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), the father of a child with autism made a heart-felt plea and a chilling statement: “We are impacted by the inability to secure our son’s future. We are his sole social circle,

Autism Canada calls for greater equity and transparency in Disability Tax Credit procedures

 Autism Canada is calling on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to apply the existing criteria for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) equally, consistently and transparently across the board for all applications. “We want fair and equitable access to the Disability Tax Credit for Canadians who have autism,” said Dermot Cleary,

Ten Medical Expenses You Didn’t Know Were Eligible for the Medical Tax Credit

 As Canadians we like to take pride in our publicly funded healthcare system, but the truth is many of us – especially those with or caring for someone with disabilities or chronic conditions – pay out of pocket for a wide range of essential health services.  Studies show Canadians pay